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THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIML  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


/ 


^ 


RANDOLPH      HONOR 


BY     THE 

AUTHOR    OF    INGEMISCO 


NEW  YORK 
RICHARDSON    AND    COMPANY 

14    BOND-STREET 
1868 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1867, 

By  EICHARDSOX  AXU  COMPANY, 

In  the  Clerk's  OflBce  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 

District  of  New  York. 


Little,  Eexxie  &  Co., 
Stereottpers. 


OOE^TEN^TS, 


CHAPTER  I. 
RANDOLPH  HONOR 5 

CHAPTER  II. 
ERE  DAWN 18 

CHAPTER  III. 
PORT  Mchenry 26 

CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  ESCAPE 33 

CHAPTER  V. 

CAPTURE  OF  THE   ST.  NICHOLAS 46 

CHAPTER  VI. 

UNDERGROUND  RAILWAY 54 

CHAPTER  VII. 

BY  FLAG  OF  TRUCE 68 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

IN  CHARLESTON 79 

CHAPTER  IX. 
SOUR  GRAPES 91 

CHAPTER  X. 
IN  ARKANSAS 103 

CHAPTER  XI. 

"  SLEEPY  HOLLOW " 113 

CHAPTER  XII. 

A  BALL  IN  THE  BACKWOODS 130 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
EVENING  AT  "BEAUREGARD" 153 


603199 


4  COXTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
CONCERNING  BATTER-CAKES 176 

CHAPTER  XY. 

WILLOW  LAKE 183 

CHAPTER  X\^I. 
SWAMP-ANGELS'  REST 190 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

LAND-HOl 232 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
PRAIRIE-COMBE 2a 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  CA^-E 252 

CHAPTER  XX. 
A  LEAP  r^  THE  DARK 261 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
AN  AUTO  DA  FE 271 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  HL^CHBACK 310 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

RANDOLPH  HONOR  320 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
IN  PRISON 331 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
AT  WATCH 335 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

ON  THE  ]SL\RCH 347 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

EBB-TIDE .355 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
BIDING  THE  SURRENDER .366 


|[f^y8fe4L^i^«^d^^ 

wmmm^^m!^m^mmmmm 

|li^^w^?NH*^^^?^^^%^^^ffl 

KANDOLPH    HONOR. 


CHAPTER  I. 


'  There's  nothing  new  in  life,  and  nothing  old — 
The  tale  that  we  might  tell  hath  oft  been  told." 

Mrs.  Jamssok. 


ADETTE!" 


She  stood  leaninsj  from  the  win- 


1  fSI^    ^^^  which  opened  on  the  portico,  and  fronted  the 

nt;^Miiai  broad  lawn.  With  clear  vistas  between  its  grand 
old  forest-trees,  that  lawn,  sloped  down  to  undulating  ter- 
races around  the  bluff,  at  the  beaehen  foot  of  which  the 
moonlit  Chesapeake  rippled  with  a  low  murmur.  There 
from  the  right  swept  the  I^atuxent  to  lose  itself  in  the  bay. 
A  bowery  garden,  divided  from  the  lawn  by  a  high  square- 
cut  yew-hedge,  steeply  overhung  the  river's  marge.  And 
as  the  young  girl's  glance  ranged  thence  to  the  Chesapeake, 
glinting  through  the  oaks  to  south  and  east,  this  promon- 
tory bore  the  semblance  of  an  island,  lone  and  far  from 
those  faint  blue  shores  across  the  sparkling  waters. 

At  the  sound  of  the  voice  she  started,  and  her  glance 
reverted  to  the  dense  shade  on  the  upper  terrace.  There 
glimmered  to  and  fro  a  red  spark,  suggestive  of  cigars  and 
"  reveries  of  a  bachelor." 

She  threw  open  the  window  to  the  floor,  and  flitted  in 
pursuit  of  that  beacon,  her  white  dress  waving  through  the 
shadows. 


6  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

"  You  called  me,  Mr.  Randolph  ?"  she  said,  when  both 
paused  beneath  the  trees. 

"Aye,  my  faiiy-fire" — drawing,  as  he  spoke,  her  hand 
within  his  arm — "  I  saw  you  yonder,  solitary  as  Mariana  in 
her  moated  Grange,  while  I  had  need  of  you  here.  Was 
that  tyrannical  ?" 

"Xot  more  tyrannical  than  grim  guardians  from  time 
immemorial.  But,  guardian  mine,  where  have  you  been 
this  evening  ?  So  charming  a  party !  That  delightful  last 
galop — you  know  it,  do  you  not  ?"  And  she  liummed  the 
air,  gliding  for  an  instant  into  the  step  of  the  dance,  while 
she  yet  retained  his  arai. 

"  And  how  many  hearts  have  the  little  dancing  feet  of 
my  will-O'-the-wisp — my  Fadette — enticed  into  the  Slough 
of  Despond  to-night?"  he  asked,  staying  where  the  moon- 
beams lay  silver-clear  upon  the  stile  which  crossed  the  old 
yew-hedge,  and  looking  down  upon  her  somewhat  sadly. 

"  Oh,  everj^  Christian  of  them  all,  of  course.  But  you 
have  not  told  me  why  you  absented  yourself?  You  never  • 
saw  any  thing  so  perfectly  lovely  as  Xannie  Lowe.  And 
Acratha —  But  I  forsret,  we  of  s^^veet  sixteen  are  rather  too 
juvenile  to  be  honored  by  your  sageship's  admiration. 
Miss  Goldsborough  inquired  most  kindly  for  you,  sir;" 
and  she  glanced  up  at  him  mischievously. 

The  grave  face  was  yet  graver  than  its  wont,  the  mouth, 
usually  so  calm,  contracted  once  as  if  in  pain,  and  the  dark 
eyes  were  fixed  moodily  upon  the  sward.  Unaccustomed 
to  have  word  or  smile  of  hers  unanswered  thus,  the  girl 
perceived  his  abstraction,  and  said  gently,  putting  off  her 
mocking  mood :  ^ 

"Something  troubles  you,  Mr.  Randolph.     "Wliat  is  it?"      ^ 

"Much,  Fadette — and  chiefly  you." 

She  met  his  earnest  look  with  one  of  bewildered  incre-     R 
dulity.     But  seeing  that  he  spoke  in  all  truth,  she  hurriedly     ^; 


BANDOLPH  HONOR.  *j 

removed  her  hand,  the  deep  rose-color  rusning  to  her  brow, 
and  stood  with  head  averted,  but  in  expectant  attitude. 

After  a  moment  he  began : 

"  I  could  not  see  you  with  the  gay  throng  to-night,  little 
one,  because  to-night  we  must  part." 

"  Part !  We  !"  she  exclaimed.  "  Surely,  dear  guardian,  I 
can  have  done  nothing  seriously  to  displease  you?  Is  it 
because  I  am  too  light,  too  giddy,  that  you  will  send  me 
away  ?     Ah,  let  me  stay,  and  I  will  try — I  will  try — " 

She  clung  to  his  arm  again,  as  if  she  would  make  his 
manly  strength  her  own  support. 

He  replied  to  her  appealing  gaze  most  tenderly. 

"My  child,"  he  said,  "through  all  your  sweet  short 
life,  since  first  you  brightened  my  gray  home  with  your 
sunny  childish  smiles  and  mischiefs,  has  ever  fault  of  yours 
been  a  fault  to  me  ?  It  is  not  that  I  send  you  away.  I 
myself  go  hence  with  to-morrow's  dawn." 

"  But  where,  Mr.  Randolph  ?  Only  to  Baltimore,  is  it 
not  ?     You  will  not  be  absent  long  ?" 

"  There  was  an  evening  that  we  stood  beneath  these  very 
trees  when  these  young  leaves  were  in  bud,  and  my  Fa- 
dette's  eyes  brightened  and  her  cheek  flushed,  while,  rais- 
ing her  hand  defiantly,  she  cried, '  Shame  upon  the  tramplers- 
out  of  our  forefathers'  "  foot-prints  on  the  sands  of  time  !" 
Honor  to  those  who  tread  once  again  and  deeper  in  those 
foot-prints,  until  they  stand  upon  the  underlying  rock.' 
Does  she  think  I  then  proclaimed  duties  for  others,  from 
which  I  myself  shrink  back  ?  or  would  let  the  true  Ran- 
dolph honor  go,  to  hold  fast  its  emblem,  these  old  walls 
and  acres?  Heretofore  business  arrangements  have  com- 
pelled me  to  delay  in  Maryland,  but  I  am  now  free  to  follow 
my  first  impulse,  to  join  our  army  in  Virginia.  Will  you 
not  bid  me  God-speed,  and  choose  me  your  champion  ?" 

His  tone  was  light,  but  he  bent  down  to  read  her  vary- 


8  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

ing  face,  anxiously.  She  bowed  her  head  to  conceal  the 
starting  tears,  saying,  with  a  tremor  in  her  voice — 

"  I  know  that  you  are  right.  I  am  proud  that  you  go. 
But  oh,  what  shall  I  do,  what  shall  I  do  when  you  are 
gone  ?" 

"  It  was  not  alone  to  speak  of  myself  that  I  summoned 
you,"  he  said,  after  a  moment ;  "  I  must  plan  for  you,  too, 
my  ward.  You  know  that  when,  twelve  years  ago,  you,  a 
wee  girl,  were  intrusted  to  my  guardianship  by  my  closest 
friend,  your  father,  it  was  his  injunction  that  on  your  sev- 
enteenth birthday  you  should  choose  between  my  home 
and  that  of  your  mother's  brother.  Xow,  therefore,  draws 
near  the  day  of  your  choice,  and — " 

"  My  dear  guardian,"  she  interrupted,  "  can  you  doubt 
what  that  must  be  ?  Could  I  ever  be  so  happy  beneath 
another  roof  as  yours  ?  Could  I  ever  love  another  home 
as  I  love  Randolph  Honor  ?" 

"  Child,  you  are  rash.  You  may  not  determine  in  igno- 
rance of  that  which  you  refuse.  You  say  you  will  miss  me 
here.  Why  then  not  pay  this  visit  now,  which  one  day  or 
other  must  be  paid?  Remember,  your  uncle  has  claims 
upon  you  stronger  than — than  I  dare  hope  to  have — and  it 
is  your  duty  to  acknowledge  them,  I  have  to-day,"  he 
added,  extending  to  her  an  open  letter,  "received  this, 
wherein  your  uncle  urges,  in  the  warmest  terms,  your  com- 
ing to  him  in  your  mothers  old  Charleston  home.  Yes, 
keep  it  to  read.  You  will  see, there  is  a  special  invitation 
for  your  rough  canine  pet.  How  have  you  deluded  Mr. 
Rutledge  into  the  belief  that  Leo  actually  did  save  your 
life?" 

"  Ah,  my  faith  is  not  to  be  shaken,  though  Lionel  does 
insist  that  had  I  not  been  too  terrified  to  stand  upright,  the 
water  would  scarcely  have  reached  my  shoulder.  By  the 
way,  I  accepted  to-day  one  invitation  for  the  dear  old  Leo — 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  9 

he  is  gone  to  Mrs.  Goldsborough,  who  is  in  perfect  terror 
of  robbers  and  what  not,  since  her  son  went  down  to  Dixie. 
But  we  won't  hear  of  any  more  visits." 

"  Your  uncle  has  the  right,  my  child.  Though  circum- 
stances have  separated  you  much  hitherto,  yet  I  am  con- 
vinced you  will  be  happy  under  his  protection.  I  now 
regret  that  we  went  again  to  Europe  last  year,  otherwise 
you  might  have  had  months  instead  of  weeks  in  his  house, 
in  which  to  form  your  decision,  and — " 

"  For  my  decision — it  would  have  been  the  very  same. 
And  I  am  sure  I  shall  never  regret  my  Fall  in  the  Alps, 
my  Winter  in  Munich,"  she  interrupted,  impatiently.  "  I 
won't  go,  Mr.  Randolph." 

"  Fadette !" 

She  was  silent— abashed.  Presently  she  raised  her  head, 
and  said  resolutely : 

"  Well,  if  you  think  I  ought,  I  will.  But  only  for  the 
^ar — only  until  you  return  to  Randolph  Honor.  You 
will  promise  me  that  ?" 

"  Then,"  he  replied  evasively,  "  my  will-o'-the-wisp  will 
have  been  flitting  so  long  through  Carolina  marshes  that 
she  cannot  be  recaptured,  nor  will  she  remember  old  Mary- 
land beaten  paths." 

"  Sir,  I  repel  the  base  insinuation,"  she  cried,  drawing 
herself  up  in  playful  indignation ;  "  and  I  renounce  forever 
your  sobriquet  of  '  Fadette,'  since  it  must  needs  be  a  type 
of  inconstancy.  But  come,  your  promise.  No  subterfuges, 
if  you  please." 

"  No,  Fadette ;  your  uncle's  house  is  now  your  proper 
home," 

She  stood  perfectly  bewildered.     Then  she  said  slowly : 

"I  cannot  understand  you,  Mr.  Randolph.  I  do  not 
fhink  you  mean  that  you  are  weary  of  me.  I  think  you 
love  me  yet.     Do  you  not  ?" 


10  BAXDOLPE  HOXOR. 

She  paused  for  his  reply. 

"  Yes,  Fadette,  I  do,"  he  said,  very  quietly. 

"Then  why  in  the  world —  Ah,  I  have  it,  you  naughty 
guardian  !  You  are  to  be  married,  and  Mistress  Randolph, 
nee — let  me  see — Dorsey — or — Goldsborough — may  not — " 

She  stopped,  her  idle  words  checked  by  the  rebuke  of 
her  companion's  grave  calm  eyes. 

After  a  moment  he  spoke : 

"You  shall  know  from  me  why  you  may* no  longer  call 
Randolph  Honor  your  home.  Others  would  tell  it  you  if 
I  did  not.  It  is  because" —  his  voice  had  a  harsh  ring  in 
it — "  although  I  am  more  than  twice  your  own  age,  and 
althougli  to  you  I  am  only  the  guardian  old  enough  to  be 
your  father,  yet  the  world  deems  me  still  too  young  to  be 
the  proper  protecjor  of  a  young  girl." 

She  blushed  crimson. 

"  I — I  will  go,"  she  hastened  to  reply.  "  But  when,  and 
how  ?" 

"I  will  write  to-morrow  from  Baltimore,  where  I  can 
make  the  necessary  arrangements.  It  is  unsafe  for  you  to 
remain  here  with  Aunt  Randolph  for  sole  defender,  when 
ni  these  troublous  times  we  know  not  how  soon  Maryland 
may  become  the  battle-ground.  Moreover,  unruly  little 
Fadette  sees  only  too  well  that  her  will  is  law  and  right  to 
Aunt  Randolph,  and  it  is  impossible  to  foretell  into  Avhat 
mischief  she  might  drag  the  staid  old  maiden.  And  I  can- 
not have  my  ward  so  beyond  my  ken,  as  must  be  were  she 
here  Avithout  the  Confederate  lines." 

Xo  answer  to  his  smile  in  Fadette's  downcast  face,  but 
upon  the  long  black  lashes  there  glittered  a  tear. 

He  replaced  her  arm  within  liis,  and  drew  her  on  beside 
the  great  yew-hedge,  where  the  gravelled  patli  was  bor- 
dered here  and  there  by  tall  dense  clumps  of  roses,  archi\ig 
bloomy  branches  high  across  the  way,  and  over  tlie  heads 


RANDOLPH  UOI^OR.  H 

of  the  two,  who,  both  within  the  medium  height  of  either 
sex,  paced  on. 

"  This  is  the  last  time,"  he  said,  at  length  breaking  the 
silence — "  the  last  time,  it  may  be,  that  we  shall  walk  thus 
together  upon  this  yew  terrace,  where  we  have  had  so  many 
walks  and  talks  in  days  gone  by.  Have  you  no  word  of 
comfort  for  me,  when  in  one  short  half-hour  we  must  part  ? 
Are  you  angry  with  me,  my  darling  ?" 

"  I  am  not  "angry,"  she  replied  constrainedly :  "  I  have 
had  no  time  to  think.  Oh,  you  are  very  cruel  to  me,  Mr. 
Randolph,"  she  cried  impetuously,  dropping  his  arm;  and 
throwing  herself  upon  a  lower  step  of  the  stile,  she  burst 
into  a  storm  of  indignant  tears. 

He  stood  at  her  side,  deep  pity  and  tenderness  in  his  man- 
ner. Once  he  bent  down,  while  his  brow  flushed,  and  his  lips 
moved  as  though  he  would  have  spoken.  But  he  refrained. 
When  her  passionate  weeping  was  at  an  end,  he  said : 

"  You  know,  my  Fadette,  that  if  I  am  cruel  to  you  it  is 
but  for  your  own  sake,  and  I  am  far  more  cruel  to  myself. 
You  are  yet  scarcely  more  than  a  child,  life  lies  before  you 
in  which  to  be  beloved,  and  you  will*  not  fail  to  win  friends 
in  your  new  home  as  in  your  old.  Mine  I  have  already 
won  or  lost,  and  my  chief  treasure  I  part  with,  because  it 
is  not  well  for  her  to  be  mine.  Will  she  then  blame  me, 
that  I  give  her  into  better  keeping  ?  Trust  me,  I  would 
not  sufler  my  darling  to  go  did  I  not  know  she  would  be 
safer  and  happier." 

She  had  calmed  herself  while  he  was  speaking,  and  now 
gave  him  her  hand,  striving  to  smile. 

"  I  will  try  to  do  contentedly  all  that  you  wish,"  she 
whispered ;  " it  is  only  that.  I  am  so  grieved  to  leave  Ran- 
dolph Honor  and  Aunt  Randolph,  and — and  you." 

Again  the  rebellious  tears  started,  but  she  checked  them 
resolutely,  and  added ; 


12  R^LS'DOLPH  IIOXOR. 

"Xow  tell  me  of  yourself.  Does  Aunt  Randolpli  know 
you  are  going  so  soon  ?   Why  did  you  not  tell  me  before  ?" 

"Because  I  did  not  purpose  leaving  until  next  week. 
Aunt  Randolph  knows.  I  summoned  her  from  the  drawing- 
room  while  you  were  dancing ;  and  the  cause  of  a  departure 
thus  sudden,  thus  secret,  is  a  note  I  this  evening  received 
from  a  friend  in  Baltimore,  informing  me  upon  undoubted 
authority  that  orders  have  been  issued  for  my  arrest. 
Were  there  the  most  remote  probability  of  charges  being 
made  public,  and  trial  permitted,  I  would  remain  here  and 
bide  the  result ;  but  as  affairs  are  now,  I  might  serve  my 
country  to  better  purpose  than  mouldering  in  some  cell  of 
the  modern  Bastille.  Therefore,  with  the  morrow's  dawn  I 
shall  have  eluded  the  clutches  of  King  Abraham's  myr- 
midons." 

Fadette  started. 

"  Hark  I"  she  whispered.  "Did  you  not  hear — a  rustling 
in  the  bushes — a  sound?  I  am  sure  it  was  like  a  sui> 
pressed  chuckle." 

"I  have  frightened  you  into  imagining  spies,  ambus- 
cades, and  how  many  horrors  besides !  Xay,  I  am  not 
quite  so  important  a  personage,  although  I  might  be  worth 
a  lettre  de  cachet.'''' 

"Ah,  Mr.  Randolph,  do  not  jest,"  she  made  answer 
tremblingly.  "  But  come,  let  us  find  out  whether  any  one 
be  near.     Pray  do  !" 

So  great  was  her  alarm,  that  to  soothe  it,  Mr.  Randolph, 
bidding  her  remain  where  she  was,  walked  toward  the  clus- 
tering bushes  whence  she  declared  the  sound  had  pro- 
ceeded. Had  she  followed,  her  aj^prehensive  glance  might 
have  discovered  that  which  his  careless  one  failed  to  do — a 
crouched  shadow,  other  than  those  of  roses  and  yew-hedge, 
blending  with  theirs  upon  the  grass. 

"  Four-and-t went y  tailors  marched  to  catch  a  snail,"  ho 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  13 

said,  presently  throwing  himself  beside  her  on  the  stile. 
"  How  that  saucy  brother  of  mine  would  laugh  at  us  for  a 
pair  of  cowards  !  Would  not  recruit  me  into  his  company, 
would  he  ?" 

"  Oh,  how  soon  you  are  to  see  Lionel !  And  you  will  join 
his  company,  won't  you  ?"  was  her  eager  rejoinder. 

"  What !  submit  my  thirty-eight  years  of  experience  to 
the  boy  whom  I  have  brought  up  ?  No,  no,  Fadette — an 
older  captain  for  me.  But  I  shall  undoubtedly  see  him, 
and,  indeed,  enter  the  same  regiment,  under  Jackson." 

"  Boy,  indeed !  he  is  twenty-one  !  But  I  see — I  had  for- 
gotten his  captaincy.  You  must  tell  him,  Avith  my  love, 
how  I  watch  for  his  name  in  the  papers,  as  for  his  home- 
coming. By  the  way,  do  you  not  think  he  may  return  to 
Maryland  on  recruiting  service?  He  has  before,  you 
know." 

"Possibly.  But  there  is  greater  probability  of  your 
hearing  from,  or  even  seeing  him,  when  you  are  once  within 
the  Confederacy.  Fadette,  will  you  watch  for  me  as  you 
watch  for  him  ?"     He  lowered  his  voice. 

"I  will  watch  for  you,  Mr.  Randolph" — she  was  too 
honest  to  repeat  "  as  for  him ;"  "  but  I  should  not  fear  for 
you  if  I  heard  nothing,  for  I  know  you  would  always  be 
right.     While  Lionel—" 

Those  summits  of  unapproachable  superiority,  above  the 
mists  of  doubts,  and  fears,  and  anxieties,  which  hover  over 
lower  regions — how  cold  they  are  !  Mr.  Randolph  looked 
chilled  in  their  atmosphere. 

"  What  of  Lionel  ?"  he  asked,  filling  up  her  pause.  "  He 
would  be  wrong,  would  he  ?" 

"  How  can  you  say  so !"  she  exclaimed,  vexed ;  "  how 
could  I  mean  that  ?  But  Lionel — well,  he  is  so  gay  and 
thoughtless — he  is  so  much  younger.  And  I  cannot  think 
of  my  playmate  wise  and  strong  as  you,  Mr.  Randolph." 


U  .  BAXDOLPII  nOXOR. 

Neitlicr  did  Mr.  Randolph  find  wisdom's  paths  the  paths  of 
pleasantness,  apparently.  But  he  made  no  remark,  merely 
assuring  her  that  the  message  should  be  duly  delivered. 

"  xVnd  now,"  he  said,  moving  into  the  moonlight  to  con- 
sult his  watch,  "  we  have  overtaken  '  the  wee  small  hours 
ayont  the  twaP,'  and  your  fairy  kindred  will  be  stirring 
anon.     So  let  us  within." 

They  retraced  their  steps,  and  ascended  the  brow  of  the 
gently  rising  ground  where  was  built  Randolph  Honor. 
Both  turned  to  take  farewell  of  the  scene  which  they  were 
leaving.     . 

Facing  the  expanse  of  waters,  and  the  shadowy  terraces 
and  undulating  slopes,  with  low,  hilly  ranges  closing  in  the 
far  horizon  in  its  rear,  stood  Randolph  Honor,  that  ivied 
mansion  of  the  orood  old  times.  Its  walls  of  c^rav  stone 
irregularly  hewn,  and  cemented  with  broad,  jagged  lines 
of  white  mortar;  its  spacious  front,  and  rambling,  unex- 
pected gables ;  its  clusters  of  peaked  chimneys,  and  eccen- 
tric round,  or  square,  or  pointed  windows,  glittering 
through  the  large-branched  trees  in  the  moonbeams,  added 
a  picturesque  feature  to  the  scene.  Hospitality  the  promi- 
nent characteristic,  there  was  no  resisting  the  broad  invita- 
tion of  portico  and  entrance,  where  roses,  woodbine,  and 
clematis  held  a  mortgage  upon  column  and  wall.  The 
night-breeze  came  laden  with  mingled  fragrance,  as  guar- 
dian and  ward  drew  near. 

"  I  am  looking  my  last  on  Randolph  Honor ;  for  oh,  Mr. 
Randolph,  it  will  be  Randolph  Honor  no  longer  when  you 
are  gone.  I  am  not  sure,  after  all,  that  I  could  bear  to 
stay,"  Fadette  said,  sorrowfully. 

They  stood  within  the  hall,  at  the  foot  of  the  great  oak 
stairs,  and  Mr.  Randolph  had  lighted  Fadette's  candle  by 
the  swinging  lamp  overhead.  He  silently  held  out  his 
hand.     She  put  hers  into  it. 


BANDOLPU  HONOR.  •  15 

"One  word,"  he  said.  "Promise  me  that  if  but  the 
shadow  of  sorrow  ever  darken  your  life,  you  will  remember 
you  are  dearer  to  me  than  all  the  world  besides.  Promise 
me  that  you  will  tell  me  of  it,  and  that  you  will  rely  upon 
me.  If  all  be  not  well  with  you  in  your  new  home,  remem- 
ber that  though  I  may  not  now  be  with  you,  I  may  and 
will  care  for  you.  In  that  case,  your  shelter  shall  be  with 
Aunt  Randolph,  whose  love  has  been  long  tried." 

She  assured  him,  brokenly,  that  she  would  ever  look  to 
him— that  none  could  take  his  place ;  and  then  she  turned 
and  slowly  ascended  the  stairs.  But  when  she  had  reached 
her  chamber,  and  set  down  her  candle  upon  the  dressing- 
table,  so  helpless  a  feeling  of  loneliness  came  over  her,  such 
a  longing  to  see  him  yet  once  again,  that,  yielding  to  the 
impulse,  she  recrossed  the  corridor  and  descended  the  stairs 
with  a  flying  step.  In  the  hall  where  she  had  left  him  he 
still  remained,  his  arm  upon  the  balustrade,  his  eyes  shaded 
w^ith  his  hand.  She  stayed  upon  the  step  above  him,  and 
called  his  name,  softly. 

He  lifted  his  head.  Yet  after  one  rapid  glance,  he  re- 
sumed his  former  posture.  But  although  his  face  was  thus 
partly  shielded  from  her,  Fadette  grew  pale  before  the  set- 
tled anguish  of  that  one  glance,  and  for  an  instant  thought 
that  he  suffered  intense  physical  pain,  his  mouth  was  so 
fixed,  so  rigid  in  its  expression  of  endurance. 

"  I  am  so  loth  to  part,"  she  murmured,  "  that  I  am  come 
again  to  say  good-bye." 

,  He  could  turn  from  her  no  more  when  her  tones  thus 
quivered,  and  a  trembling,  beseeching  touch  was  laid"  upon 
his  arm.  And  ere  long  she  had  perched  herself  upon  the 
balustrade,  partly  supported  by  a  hand  upon  her  guardian's 
shoulder,  exchanging  from  time  to  time  words  of  hope, 
which  faltered  into  half-uttered  fears— bright  promises  of 
the  future,  changing  into  dull  regrets. 


16  RANDOLPH  UOXOR. 

At  length  she  rose,  saying — 

"  But  you  will  be  so  weary,  you  cannot  have  even  your 
two  or  three  hours  of  rest,  if  I  do  not  run  away  now.  You 
go  at  half-past  four  ?  I  shall  come  down  and  pour  out  your 
coffee." 

"  No,  Fadette,  I  would  not  part  with  you  a  second  time. 
Aunt  Randolph  will  attend  to  my  comfort.  And  now 
again,  good-bye.     God  be  with  you,  my  own,  my  own !" 

It  was  almost  in  a  groan  that  he  ended,  and  he  gazed 
earnestly  in  her  face,  as  she  flung  back  with  a  toss  of  the 
head  that  heavy  braid  of  purple-black  hair  escaped  from 
the  comb,  low  upon  her  cheek.  He  marked  the  rich  car- 
mine glow ;  the  pure  transj^arent  brunette  tints ;  the  full 
red  lips,  half  parted  in  a  sigh ;  the  dewy,  deep-brown  eyes ; 
the  thoughtful  line  upon  the  low,  broad  brow.  This  last 
arrested  his  attention. 

"Time  must  not  change  my  Fadette  until  we  meet 
again ;"  he  said,  "  and  that  it  may  not,  she  must  banish 
that  naughty,  cross  wrinkle  from  her  brow.  Sadness  has 
no  place  there,  my  darling." 

She  tried  to  smile,  and  to  retort,  but  voice  failed  her. 
She  could  only  murmur,  when,  with  another  hand-clasp,  he 
would  have  put  her  away — 

"  When  we  last  parted  for  long,  it  was  not  thus.  Am  I 
less  dear  to  you  now  ?" 

He  understood,  and  bending  down,  kissed  her  forehead 
lightly.  Then  with  another  tearful  attempt  at  a  smile,  she 
fled  up  the  stairs,  without  ventuiing  one  downward  look. 

She  drew  a  low  seat  into  the  bay-window  of  her  cham- 
ber, overlooking  the  Chesapeake.  She  leaned  her  arms 
upon  the  deep  sill,  and  rested  her  chin  in  her  hands.  Her 
gaze  fell  where  the  bay  lay  broad  and  silvery  in  the  moon- 
light ;  where  the  red  and  green  lights  of  a  steamer  passed 
swiftly  on,  yet  seemed  to  loiter  in  the   distance;  where 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  17 

waves  tossed  fitfully  in  the  wake  of  ruder  gusts,  as  drifting 
clouds  obscured  the  moon. 

All  this  she  seemed  to  see,  but  saw  not,  looking  yearn- 
ingly toward  the  past,  blankly  toward  the  future.  Per- 
chance anon  some  bright  vision  there — for  she  was  yet  a 
girl,  and  what  girl  fears  the  future  ? — flitted  before  her  tear- 
dazzled  eyes.  For  once  a  smile  just  hovered  on  her  lij)s, 
though  this  was  quickly  followed  by  a  burst  of  weeping. 

Tired  out  at  last,  and  lulled  by  the  surging  of  the  waves, 
she  became  calm.  Gradually  the  shadows  of  those  long- 
curved  lashes  wavered  on  her  cheek — her  head  drooped  upon 
her  arms,  now  crossed  on  the  window-sill — and  just  as  she 
was  summoning  resolution  to  rise  and  undress,  she  slept. 

The  moonbeams  rested  upon  the  serene  brow  and  the 
tapering  folded  hands,  and  her  breathing  was  light  and 
untroubled  as  the  breeze  which  stirred  the  raven  tresses 
veiling  her  dimpled  shoulders. 


CHAPTEPw  n. 


EKE    DAWN. 


'  Clouds  in  the  evening  sky  more  densely  gather." — Salis. 


j|HE  awoke  with  that  sudden  start,  that  impulse  of 
alarm,  wherewith  danger  sometimes  warns  in  sleep. 
She  opened  her  eyes  upon  dense  darkness,  and  was 
at  tirst  so  bewildered  that  she  knew  not  where  she  was.  The 
chill  night-wind,  however,  roused  her,  and,  shivering,  she 
rose  to  close  the  window.  The  night  had  changed  while 
she  slept.  Hurrying  clouds,  made  visible  only  by  occasional 
lurid  flashes,  swept  over  the  moon,  and  mutterings  of  the 
white  and  angry  bay  responded  to  the  sullen  echoes  of  the 
thunder. 

Fadette  had  always  declared  herself  "  devoted"  to  thun- 
der-storms, and  she  leaned  from  the  window  watching  the 
on-coming  of  this.  Presently,  in  one  of  those  lulls  which 
precede  the  wilder  thunder-crash,  she  became  conscious  of 
a  near  presence,  and,  listening  intently,  distinguished  a 
footfall  crunching  upon  the  gravelled  walk  beneath.  Bend- 
ing forward,  her  very  breathing  suppressed,  she  distinctly 
heard  the  low  tones  of  a  voice,  and  a  transient  gleam  of 
lightning  parting  the  blackness,  threw  into  relief,  against 
the  white  columns  of  the  portico,  the  figure  of  a  man. 
She  drew  back,  and  clenched  her  hands  together  to  assure 
herself  by  corporeal  evidence  that  she  was  not  still  asleep, 
for  in  her  dreams  but  now  had  Lionel  Randolph's  home- 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  19 

coming  thus  appeared.  Possessed  with  the  thought  of 
him,  she  returned  to  her  place  and  called  softly — 

"  Lionel,  is  that  you  ?" 

There  was  a  brief  silence,  during  which  she  thought  she 
discerned  the  sound  of  hastily  retreating  steps.  Terrified 
now,  she  was  about  to  arouse  the  house  and  give  the  alarm 
of  she  knew  not  what,  when  there  came  the  low  answer  to 
her  question — 

"  Yes,  it  is  Lionel  Randolph.  Come  down  and  let  me 
in,  will  you — quick  !" 

"  But — but — are  you  sure  it  is  you,  Lionel  ?"  She  hesi- 
tated, peering  down  anxiously  into  the  dark.  "  Is  no  one 
with  you  ?" 

This  time  the  reply  was  prompt. 

"  Yes,  yes,  one  of  my  company.  Quick,  or  we  may  be 
discovered !" 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  glad,  so  glad !"  she  cried ;  and  catching 
up  a  light  shawl,  throwing  it  over  her  evening  dress,  she 
passed  out  into  the  corridor,  delaying  not  even  to  strike  a 
light.  As  she  groped  her  way  along  to  the  stairs,  she 
stayed  an  instant  at  the  door  of  her  guardian's  chamber. 

"Lionel  is  come,  Mr.  Randolph,"  she  called,  rapping 
Once  or  twice.  She  did  not  wait  to  hear  Ins  questions,  but 
added : 

"  I  was  up,  and  am  going  to  let  him  in ;"  and  he  heard 
her  light  foot  upen  the  stairs. 

As  she  felt  for  the  great  bolt  of  the  hall-door  a  mysterious 
awe  crept  over  her,  and  her  fingers  trembled  so  that  she 
was  forced  to  pause.  For  one  moment  she  was  tempted  to 
return  for  a  light ;  then  she  remembered  she  had  been  bid- 
den to  hasten. 

"Lionel!  Lionel!"  she  called  in  an  aflfrighted  whisper, 
putting  her  mouth  to  the  keyhole. 

The  silence  was  unbroken,  save  by  the  surging  of  tern- 


20  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

pestiious  wind  and  waves,  and  the  clashing  of  the  boughs 
against  the  portico.  She  shivered  as  though  the  storm  had 
power  to  shake  her  too.  Her  first  impulse  of  distrust 
rushed  back  upon  her.  With  it  came  the  memory  of  a  self- 
murdered  Randolph  of  a  generation  years  before  the  Revo- 
lution, who  still,  the  servants  had  oftentimes  borne  witness, 
was  wont  on  such  a  night  as  this  to  j^ace  beneath  the  case- 
ment of  his  false  love,  who  had  spurned  him  for  the  heir, 
his  brother.  But,  coward  as  she  was,  she  was  more  afraid 
of  Lionel's  unmerciful  raillery  upon  the  display  of  her 
cowardice,  than  of  all  the  terrors  conjured  up  by  night.  So 
she  mustered  all  her  courage,  drew  the  refractory  bolt,  and 
the  door  creaked  heavily  upon  its  hinges. 

Instantly  there  was  a  rush  of  trampling  feet  in  the  dark- 
ness.    Fadette  shrank  back,  cowering,  against  the  wall. 

Amid  muttered  oaths,  and  demands  for  light,  and  sup- 
pressed objurgations,  consigning  "that  fool  of  a  woman" 
to  Hades  at  mildest,  her  heart  beat  so  violently  that  she 
was  fain  to  clasp  her  hands  over  it,  terrified  lest  its  throb- 
bings,  which  to  her  were  so  fearfully  audible,  might  betray 
her. 

Xow  she  had  almost  shrieked  aloud,  as  some  one  brushed 
by  her,  crouched  in  her  corner.  Suddenly  it  flashed  upon 
her  mind,  before  absorbed  in  vague  awe  of  the  supernat- 
ural— of  the  midnight  powers  of  the  air,  of  hobgoblins,  or 
of  storied  robber-hordes — that  these  must  be  men  sent  to 
effect  that  arrest  of  which  Mr.  Randolph  had  spoken. 

Thought  for  him  on  the  instant  overcame  appreheugion 
for  herself.  Collecting  her  wandering  ideas,  she  remem- 
bered that  the  library,  the  door  of  which  was  close  at  hand, 
opened  also  into  another  hall,  whence  a  staircase  led  up 
into  the  corridor  above. 

For  one  second  she  shuddered  at  the  idea  of  threading 
through  that   throng ;    but   the  next,  her  re&.olution  was 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  21 

taken.  And  moving  warily,  albeit  blindly,  she  eluded 
collision,  gained  the  library,  and  fled  on  until  she  stood 
with  palpitating  heart  at  the  far  end  of  the  hall  above,  be- 
fore her  guardian's  door. 

He  was  just  coming  out,  candle  in  hand. 

"  What  is  it  ?"  he  asked  hastily,  observing  her  changing 
color,  and  hearing  the  commotion  below. 

"  Come  away — away,"  she  gasped.  "  They  are  seeking 
you — I  know  they  are.  It  is  not  Lionel.  The  hall  is  filled 
with  armed  men ;  I  heard  the  clash  of  their  bayonets. 
Quick,  quick,  Mr.  Randolph — they  are  all  in  the  front  hall 
— you  can  surely  escape  by  the  back." 

A  shade  of  deeper  gravity  darkened  his  brow.  But  he 
replied,  calmly: 

"  Xo.  They  cannot  have  omitted  to  surround  the  house. 
Better  remain  where  I  am  than  attempt  an  unsuccessful 
escape." 

"  Quick,  then — let  me  conceal  you  in  Aunt  Randolph's 
dressing-room." 

"  And  be  caught  like  a  rat  in  a  trap  ?  ^NTo,  thank  you, 
little  lady,  I  will  brave  it  out.  And  if  the  worst  come 
to  the  worst,  a  few  weeks  of  hermit  life  will  do  me  no 
great  harm." 

He  was  silent  upon  the  true  motive  for  surrendering 
himself — the  dread  of  leaving  two  defenceless  women  ex- 
posed to  the  insolence  of  a  baffled  soldiery. 

He  re-entered  his  dressing-room,  followed  by  Fadette. 
He  took  from  the  table  a  pair  of  pistols,  examining  and 
loading  one,  Avhile  she  held  the  other  toward  him  in  read- 
iness. 

"  Xay,  my  little  one,"  he  said,  as,  relieving  her  of  the 
weapon,  he  looked  up  and  smiled  into  her  blanched  face, 
where  the  large  dark  eyes  Avere  grown  larger  and  darker 
than  ever,  dilated  with  the  wild  gaze  of  a  startled  fawn. 


22  BAXDOLPH  IIOXOR. 

"  Fear  not,  I  am  not  going  to  carry  the  war  into  Africa, 
but  merely  to  bully  the  rascals  into  a  few  stipulations  of 
my  own.  Remain  where  you  are  while  I  go  to  meet  them  ; 
and  the  very  moment  we  leave  the  house,  do  you  flit  down 
and  secure  the  door.  Nay,  do  not  weep,  my  darling,"  he 
soothed,  as  she  clung  to  him. 

"  I — I  have  brought  all  this  upon  you,"  she  sobbed.     ' 

"  Hush,  hush,"  he  replied,  kissing  her  brow,  and  putting 
her  away  gently ;  "  and  if  you  love  me,  remain  here  until 
these  men  are  gone.  Aunt  Randolph  sliall  come  to  you. 
There  is  no  danger;  no,  none  for  me,  trust  me." 

She  covered  her  f^ice,  sinking  upon  her  knees,  her  brow 
pressed  against  the  cold  marble  of  the  table,  in  an  agony 
of  weeping.  He  cast  one  yearning,  lingering  glance  upon 
her,  ere,  placing  one  pistol  in  his  belt  and  taking  the  other 
in  his  hand,  he  left  the  room,  closing  the  door. 

Meantime,  matches  had  been  produced  and  the  hall-lamp 
relighted.  The  gleam  of  bayonets  wavered  to  and  fro 
below,  and  several  soldiers  were  beginning  to  mount  the 
stairs.  Mr.  Randolph  came  forward  to  the  landing  and 
confronted  them. 

''  Why  are  you  here  ?  TThat  do  you  want  ?"  he  demanded 
of  the  foremost. 

The  man,  a  lank,  slouching  specimen  of  the  genuine 
"  Down-Easter,"  stole  one  glance  at  the  pistols,  and  another 
at  the  muscular  though  lightly-built  frame  and  resolute  eye 
of  his  interrogator.  ,  He  shuflled  uneasily,  and  turned,  as 
if  appealing  to  those  in  his  rear. 

"  We  want  Lloyd  Randolph  the  traitor,  that's  Avhat  we 
want,"  growled  a  gruif  voice  from  behind. 

The  right  hand  tightened  upon  the  pistol,  and  was  in- 
stinctively half  raised;  but  the  creaking  movement  of  a 
door,  which  stood  ajar  far  up  the  corridor,  admonished  of  a 
watcher.     The  grasp  relaxed. 


BANDOLPH  HONOR.  23 

"  I  am  Lloyd.  Randolph,"  lie  replied,  folding  his  arms 
and  awaiting  further  explanation.  Whereupon,  from  the 
background  where  he  had  heretofore,  with  commendable 
discretion,  remained,  advanced  a  fiercely  moustached  man- 
ikin, duly  striped,  brass-buttoned,  and  epauletted,  his  ofii- 
cership  most  unmistakably  proven  by  the  long  sword 
clanking  at  his  heels. 

"  Den  you  be  my  prisoner,  sare,"  he  announced,  with  a 
flourish  of  his  chapeau,  falling  into  position,  his  right  foot 
stoutly  planted  on  an  upper  step,  his  right  hand  laid  mar- 
tially upon  the  hilt  of  the  very  obvious  sword. 

"  So  be  it,  upon  one  condition,"  responded  Mr.  Randolph  : 
*'  That  to  avoid  disturbance  in  the  house,  you  withdraw 
your  men  to  the  lawn.  Then,  and  not  until  then,  I  sur- 
render." 

"  Bon — ver'  good,"  the  officer  rejoined,  smiling  sarcasti- 
cally ;  "  dat  is  enough  well — give  you  fine  chance  for  to 
save  yourself" 

"  How,  sir !  when  I  have  given  my  w^ord  ?"  thundered 
Mr.  Randolph,  in  a  towering  passion.  And,  forgetful  of 
prudence,  he  seized  the  poor  little  emissary  by  the  collar, 
shaking  him  until,  half-throttled,  he  stammered — 

"  Pardon,  pardon ;  I  have  but  jested,  sare." 

Mr.  Randolph  let  go  his  hold.  But  thr  unfortunate  lieu- 
tenant, too  suddenly  released,  after  on.3  violent  efibrt  to 
maintain  his  tottering  dignity,  reeled  Vackward,  and  went 
rolling  over  and  over  in  a  series  of  not  the  most  graceful 
somersaults,  the  soldiers  upon  either  hand  clearing  the  road 
for  his  "  masterly  retreat,"  until  he  reached  the  end  of  the 
flight,  decidedly  hors  du  comhat. 

While  he  rose  to  his  feet,  crimson  with  anger  and  ges- 
ticulating furiously,  an  unrestrained  shout  of  laughter  rang 
through  the  house  from  the  yet  undisciplined  recruits,  Avho 
held  their  diminutive  foreign  commander  in  no  great  re- 


24  BAMDOLPR  ROyOB. 

spect.  And  that  half-closed  door  creaked  again  sympathet- 
ically. 

Meantime,  the  keen  eyes  of  Mr.  Randolph  had  espied 
through  the  parting  crowd  the  familiar  face  of  a  mechanic 
from  the  neighboring  village,  who  had  long  borne  him  a 
grudge  for  some  slight  offence,  and  whose  abolition  pro- 
clivities had  been  more  than  once  suspected  by  the  planters 
of  the  vicinity. 

"  Ha,"  he  exclaimed,  "  there  is  the  spy  and  informer ! 
Here,  any  of  you  fellows  who  may  have  manliness  to  de- 
spise a  sneak,  throw  me  up  yonder  scoundrel."  But  not 
ambitious  of  becoming  "the  cynosure  of  neighboring  eyes," 
the  detected  man  had  already  disappeared. 

Aroused  by  the  unseasonable  mii-th.  Aunt  Randolph  her- 
self had  emerged  from  her  chamber,  and  now  advanced 
along  the  corridor,  her  hands  uplifted  in  amazement.  The 
tall  spectral  form,  arrayed  in  a  hastily-donned  trailing  white 
vn-apper,  was  a  fitting  adjunct  to  the  scene.  It  might  have 
been  a  troubled  spii'it  disturbed  in  midnight  hour  of  wan- 
dering, by  intrusive  mortal  presence  and  obtrusive  mortal 
levity.  As  on  this  figure  passed,  the  terrified  yet  amused 
watcher,  ensconced  behind  the  door,  thought  rather  irrev- 
erently— 

"  Thy  two  eyes  like  stars  start  from  tlieir  spheres, 
Thy  knotted  and  combined  locks  do  part, 
And  each  particular  hair  doth  stand  on  end, 
Like  quills  upon  the  fretful  porcupine." 

Mr.  Randolph,  turning  and  beholding  the  new-comer, 
hastened  to  say  to  her : 

"  Do  not  be  alarmed — an  earlier  summons  than  I  antici- 
pated, that  is  all.  I  must  go  with  these  men,  but  T\nll  com- 
mimicate  with  you  as  soon  as  possible.  Do  not  be  down- 
hearted, my  dear  aunt." 

But  the  dear  aunt  was  so  down-hearted,  that,  dropping 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  25 

aghast  upon  an  opportune  sofa,  she  began  piteously  to 
lament  and  bewail  the  manifold  sins  and  wickednesses  of 
the  Yankee  nation.  And  the  little  Fadette  was  so  down 
hearted,  that  when,  after  a  few  words  of  comfort  and  of 
hope,  the  prisoner  was  following  the  guard  down  stairs,  she 
could  not  resist  gliding  out  from  her  retreat,  and  slipping 
her  hand  in  his,  again  murmur  farewell  through  deep- 
drawn  sobs. 

"  What's  that  o-irl  boohooinsj  about  ?"  asked  one  soldier, 
staring  upward,  of  another. 

"  Oh,  she's  crying  because  we're  going  away,"  the  man 
returned,  with  a  leer  directed  to  Fadette. 

Mr.  Randolph  did  not  hear  this  dialogue,  but  Fadette 
did,  and  brushed  away  her  tears,  and  mastered  her  agita- 
tion. His  last  glance  rested  upon  the  fairy  figure  kneeling 
beside  and  tenderly  soothing  the  old  lady.  She  looked  up 
gave  him  one  tremulous  smile,  and  he  was  gone. 

2 


CHAPTER    III. 

FORT   M  HENKY. 

'Where  the  heart  goes  before,  like  a  lamp,  and  illumines  the  pathway, 
Many  things  are  made  clear  which  else  lie  hidden  in  darkness." 

EVAXGELIXE. 

lADETTE  leaned  forward  from  the  carriage  as  it 
wheeled  rapidly  on  out  Fort  Avenue,  leaving 
Baltimore  behind,  and  speeding  over  the  narrow 
level  neck  of  land  toward  its  termination  in  the  grassy 
parapets  of  Fort  McHenry.  Broad  upon  either  hand  lay 
the  smooth  blue  waters,  widening  outward  to  the  bay. 
Beyond,  far  Fort  Carroll,  on  its  little  island,  fronted  the 
semicircling  hills  of  the  city,  where  monuments  and  spires 
rose  with  wooded  eminences  behind.  To  the  right  of  the 
road  the  sides  of  the  promontory  sloped,  here  and  there  in 
gardens,  to  the  water's  edge;  and  to  the  left,  cottages  and 
frequent  flocks  of  geese  whitened  the  green  common. 

To  Fadette's  memory  recurred  the  morning,  not  a  year 
ago,  when  last  she  had  sped  here  in  a  light  open  carriage, 
not,  as  now,  with  only  Miss  Randolph,  frightened  and  ner- 
vous, by  her  side,  but  with  a  merry  party,  herself  the  mer- 
riest there.  Presently  further  progress  Avas  stayed  by  the 
sentinel  at  the  tall  black  barred  gates  which  swung  across 
the  road  from  the  stone  walls  shutting  out  on  either  liand 
that  end  of  the  promontory  where  stood  the  fort.  And  while 
a  soldier  was  despatched  to  headquarters  to  request  passes 
for  the  visitors,  she  gazed  wistfully  up  to  the  hospital  piazza 
just  within,  once  the  scene  of  more  than  one  gay  flirtation 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  27 

during   the   scarcelj^-watchcd   i)rogress  of  grand  drill  or 


review. 


.  Those  fiery  Zouaves,  in  flaming  uniform,  failed  to  recall 
to  her  from  out  the  past  one  impulse  of  pride  and  pleasure, 
or  even  of  interest  in  the  evolutions  of  the  light-artillery 
drill,  the  spirited  horses,  the  dashing  riding.  The  bugle- 
calls  no  longer  echoed  of  tournay  and  of  field  of  gold ;  but 
of  field  of  blood  and  passing  souls,  of  shrieks,  and  wails 
of  death.  The  harmless  guns  mouthed  forth  no  longer  re- 
verberations of  the  glory  of  the  olden  time ;  but  threaten- 
ings  of  destruction  for  all  she  held  dearest  and  most  sacred. 
What  wonder,  then,  that  she  sank  back  upon  the  cushions, 
to  avoid  recognizing  the  courtesy  of  an  ofiicer,  who,  in  riding 
by,  touched  his  cap ;— while  Miss  Bandolph,  in  trembling 
awe  of  military  power,  and  regarding  the  closed  gates 
before  her  much  as  a  fluttering  hen  may  be  supposed  to 
regard  the  entrance  to  the  fox's  hole,  pressed  her  arm  in 
remonstrance,  bestowing  the  while  several  comj^ensatory 
nods  upon  the  rebuffed  warrior. 

Ingress  granted  at  length,  the  gates  swung  open,  and 
the  carriage  rolled  on  up  the  broad  road  dividing  the  drill- 
grounds,  which  stretched  away  with  a  gentle  declivity  to 
the  sea-wall  on  either  hand.  And  the  driver  drew  up 
before  a  heavy  wooden  gate,  a  late  addition  to  the  de- 
fences of  the  fort's  entrance. 

Fadette  glanced  around.  To  her  left,  were  those  white 
cottages  sprinkled  over  the  green  slopes  with  their  inter- 
secting gravel-paths,  the  sward  broken  here  and  there  by 
triangular  stacks  of  bomb-shells,  dotting  it  with  black.  The 
gray  surrounding  sea-wall  bounded  placid  waves  gleaming 
in  the  sunshine.  The  shores  rose  beyond,  across  the  Avaves", 
hill  above  hill.  All  was  here  as  of  old,  the  peaceful  pageant- 
ry of  war.  The  white  tents  of  the  Zouave  camp  well-nigh 
hid  themselves,  to  the  southwest  of  the  fort,  anion  o-  the 


28  RAXDOLPH  IIOXOR. 

green  Trater-batterics  which  faced  toward  the  bay.  Here 
to  the  right,  the  high  yellow  rounded  walls  of  Fort  McHen- 
ry,  sui-mounted  by  broad  grassy  parapets,  rose  up  from  the 
verdant  dry-moat  ench'cling,  which  in  bright  patches  shone 
yellow  as  those  walls  with  buttercups  and  dandelions. 
Overleaning  it,  blossomed  the  old  apple-tree,  as  in  sum- 
mers gone.  But  when  Fadette  had  passed  through  the 
new  entrance,  unfamiliar  were  bristling  abattis,  spiked  port- 
cullis depending  from  the  sally-port,  and  a  formidable  array 
of  newly-mounted  guns. 

"  My  dear,  my  dear,  where  are  you  going  ?  AVhat  do 
you  intend  to  do  ?"  whispered  Miss  Kandolph  in  a  tremor, 
eyeing  askance  the  orderly  who  preceded  them. 

"To  follow  that  man  straight  to  Mr.  Kandolph,"  Fa- 
dette replied,  with  an  encouraging  nod.  For  to  the  timid 
old  lady  the  young  girl's  affection  took  a  matronly,  patron- 
izing form,  inasmuch  as  she  feared  neither  man  nor  day- 
light. It  was  only  by  darkness  and  "  the  immortals"  that 
she  was  overawed. 

"  Oh,"  she  exclaimed,  checkmg  herself  suddenly,  "  that 
portmanteau — my  dear  aunt,  did  you  forget  it  ?  AVill 
you,"  she  added,  addressing  the  orderly,  "return  to  the 
carriage  for  it  ?  My  pass  gives  permission  to  admit  it, 
provided  it  be  searched." 

Xot  through  forgetfiilness  had  she  left  that  portmanteau. 
Xor  did  she  now  repeat  her  order  without  reckoning  the 
moment  when  two  officers,  passing  into  the  fort,  sliould  be 
near  enough  to  hear  her  words  and  to  observe  her  indifter- 
ent  air.  Why,  indeed,  should  she  be  other  than  indifferent 
as  to  the  an*ival  or  non-arrival  of  a  portmanteau  ? 

Her  heart  sank  within  her  as  she  paused  upon  the  thresh- 
old of  the  prison-cell.  She  remembered  how  once  in  other 
times  on  entering  the  sally-port  she  had  glanced,  througli 
the  open  door  within,  into  this  darksome  place.     Then  she 


BANDOLPH  HOJS^OU.  29 

had  shuddered  at  its  aspect,  and  now,  shuddering  yet  more, 
she  recalled  the  reply  to  her  question,  spoken  by  an  officer 
then  walking  beside  her:  "We  make  no  use  of  this  cell, 
save  when  the  fellow  is  unmanageably  and  vociferously 
drunk:  it  is  inhabited  for  a  few  hours  only,  otherwise  the 
occupant  would  hasten  to  exchange  it  for  another  vault, 
perhaps  somewhat  damper." 

Not  much,  however,  thought  Fadette,  surveying  the  dis- 
mal walls,  where  moisture  oozed,  and  gathered,  and  trickled 
slowly  down. 

Twelve  men  were  within  the  narrow  precincts.  One, 
haggard  and  unshorn,  sat  gloomily  apart  upon  an  iron  bed- 
stead at  the  further  end,  his  elbows  on  his  knees,  his  rough 
bearded  chin  in  his  hands,  never  moving,  in  dogged  despair 
and  sullen  indifference,  as  the  visitors  entered.  Another, 
at  the  sound  of  the  clanking  door,  had  started  forward, 
then  with  an  air  of  bitter  disappointment  turned  away. 
An  aged  gray-haired  gentleman  was  conversing  with  a 
chaplain  captured  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  on  the 
battle-field.  Two  Confederate  soldiers  were  recounting  to 
a  select  audience  beside  the  door  their  experiences  of 
camp  and  field;  while  a  third,  close  by,  whistled  care 
down  the  wind  to  a  most  lugubrious  tune.  Mr.  Randolph 
himself  paced  restlessly  up  and  down.  He  held  out  his 
hand  in  welcome  to  his  guests,  evincing  no  surprise  at 
their  advent. 

"  I  have  been  looking  for  you  each  day  since  you  were 
advised  of  my  residence,"  he  said  cheerily;  "and  just  now 
was  longing  to  hold  old  Time  by  the  forelock,  lest  he  should 
give  the  signal  to  close  the  gates  w^hile  yet  tarried  the 
wheels  of  your  chariot.  Early,  is  it  ?  But  here  daylight 
and  night  are  not  widely  different,  and  when  my  watch 
and  I  were  captured,  we  were  not  conveyed  to  the  same 


30  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

stronghold.  Well,  what  thinks  my  kmd  aunt  of  her  first 
appearance  in  prison  ?" 

Miss  Randolph  could  not  respond  in  the  tone  of  the  pris- 
oner. She  surveyed  the  miserable  apartment  and  its  in- 
mates in  profound  dismay,  and  stared  aghast  at  the  damp, 
stained  walls,  while  the  corners  of  her  mouth  fell  into  a 
yet  more  depressed  and  anxious  curve. 

"  Nay,"  he  said,  "  you  came  to  see  me,  not  the  cell,  and 
you  must  not  waste  one  regard  upon  it.     Remember-^ 

'  Stone  walls  do  not  a  prison  make, 

Nor  iron  bars  a  cage, 
Hearts—' 

"  What  hearts  are  those,  Fadette,  that  take     • 

'  This  for  their  hermitage  ?' " 

"  Cold,  stony  hearts,  I  should  think,"  she  responded, 
faintly  returning  his  smile. 

She  had  seated  herself  upon  a  bench  beside  the  door, 
while  one  of  the  gentlemen  had  risen  and  placed  his  chair 
for  Miss  Randolj)!!.  Mr.  Randolph  leaned  upon  the  back, 
conversing  in  a  lowered  tone — not  so  lowered,  however, 
but  that  Fadette  once  or  twice  distinguished  her  own  name, 
coupled  with  "  passport" — "  few  weeks'  delay" — "  Charles- 
ton." 

She  shook  her  head  with  a  low  laugh  of  superior  knowl- 
edge, saying  to  herself,  "  When  you  are  free  to  plan,  my 
guardian.  I  go  after,  or  go  not  at  all."  She  sent  restless 
glances  through  the  open  doorway,  before  which  the  senti- 
nel passed  and  repassed.  Once  she  started  up  with  a  gesture 
of  impatience,  but  resumed  her  seat  as  the  orderly  appeared, 
and  with  him  the  forgotten  portmanteau. 

While  Miss  Randolph,  in  anxiety  for  the  neat  hJanchiS' 
sage,  rose  to  superintend  its  examination,  Mr.  Randolph 
took  possession  of  the  place  beside  his  ward.     Her  hand, 


BANDOLPH  HONOR.  31 

clasping  a  simple  bouquet,  rested  upon  the  back  of  the 
bench.     He  lifted  hand  and  flowers  together. 

"  For  me,  are  they  not ; — to  whisper  of  my  little  one 
in  her  garden  at  Randolph  Honor ;  to  speak  a  comforting 
lansruasre  of  their  own  throuQ-hout  the  weary  hours  ?" 

She  raised  her  eyes,  fixing  them  steadily  upon  his,  as  she 
said : 

"  Do  you  understand  the  language  of  flowers  ?  These 
have  indeed  comforting  words,  strangely  comforting  words 
of  their  own.     Read  them  carefully,  carefully ;  and — " 

She  stopped,  observing  that  the  soldier,  having  concluded 
his  examination  of  the  portmanteau,  seemed  to  be  listening. 
But  the  look  she  bent  upon  the  blossoms  now  in  her  guar- 
dian's keeping  was  significant  as  speech  could  be,  and  he 
resolved  that  the  bouquet's  message  should  be  studied 
flower  by  flower. 

Not  sorrowful,  as  at  the  last  parting,  was  her  smile, 
when  she  turned  upon  the  threshold  of  the  dreary  prison, 
waving  her  little  hand  once  again  ere  the  grating  door  shut 
out  that  vision  of  hope,  of  comfort,  and  of  love. 

As  she  descended  the  slope,  drawing  the  trembling  Miss 
Randolph's  arm  within  her  own,  a  heavier  step  resounded 
through  the  sally-port.  The  commanding  officer  overtook 
her,  and  walked  on  by  her  side.  He  was  an  acquaintance 
of  years'  standing,  and  she  put  a  constraint  upon  the  cold- 
ness creeping  over  her,  more  especially  as  Miss  Randolph 
would  not  understand  a  hint,  but  slackened  her  pace.  She 
told  him  she  was  about  to  venture  a  request.  The  cell, 
she  said,  was  extremely  damp  and  over-crowded :  the  Ran- 
dolphs had  so  many  of  them  been  consumptive — Nay,  he 
must  not  smile  at  her  words,  because  this  captive  scion 
was  of  stalwart  bearing.  Would  the  colonel — could  it  be 
unreasonable  to  ask  it  ? — permit  Mr.  Randolph  to  occupy 
one  of  the  guard-rooms  during  the  night  ?     She  had  heard 


32  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

it  had  one  prisouer  already  there  in  solitary  confinement, 
and  she  would  esteem  it  so  great  a  favor !  She  prayed 
pardon  if  she  thus  invaded  the  province  of  the  commanding 
officer  of  Fort  McHenry,  but  really  could  not  think  of 
beating  a  retreat  until  he  had  capitulated. 

There  being  no  serious  obstacle  in  the  way,  the  gallantry 
of  an  old  army-officer  induced  him  to  consent  to  the  young 
lady's  arrangement,  and,  grateful  beyond  what  he  could 
imagine,  Fadette  went  back  over  old  times  with  no  very 
bad  grace,  as  he  accompanied  her  to  the  carriage. 

On  passing  the  abattis,  she  mockingly  inquired  its  use. 
The  officer  replied  that  alarms  of  purposed  popular  uprisings 
in  Baltimore  were  so  frequent,  that  additional  defences  were 
deemed  necessary.  Guns  were  turned  upon  the  city,  and 
the  abattis  designed  .especially  for  a  protection  against  bel- 
ligerent crinoline. 

Fadette  glanced  at  the  bristling  protection,  and  then 
down  upon  her  own  crinoline  significantly. 

"Allow  me  to  remhid  you,"  she  said,  laughingly,  "that 
in  the  days  of  our  grandmothers  there  was  a  Bastille,  where 
stone  walls  and  bristling  spears  proved  but  insufficient  bar- 
riers against  fish-women  bold.  However,  it  may  be  that 
crinoline  was  not  d  la  mode  in  La  Halle." 

They  reached  the  carriage,  and  as  the  colonel  assisted 
Fadette  to  her  seat  beside  Miss  Randolph,  from  the  parade- 
ground  rose  the  loved  air  of  "Dixie"  proudly  on  the 
breeze. 

"  My  test  of  a  rebel  lady,"  remarked  the  colonel,  watch- 
ing the  color  deepening  in  Fadette's  cheek. 


CHAPTEK    lY. 


THE    ESCAPE. 


"A  woman's  will  dies  hard,  in  the  hall  or  on  the  sward." 

Mrs.  Browning. 


OOD-MORNING,  absent  one.  What,  did  you  in- 
tend to  cut  me  ?  Why  so  pensive  ?  Surely  you 
cannot  have  heard  the  news — a  prisoner  escaped 
from  the  fort?  Mr.  Wayne  told  me  he  met  the  jailer— I 
beg  his  pardon,  the — wliat  do  they  call  him  ? — commanding 
officer — -just  now,  riding  post-haste  to  headquarters  here, 
and  evidently  quite  '  on  the  rampage.'  " 

The  speaker,  a  young  lady,  gay  and  bright,  laid  a  de- 
taining clasp  on  Fadette's  arm,  who  was  walking  slowly  up 
the  street,  her  eyes  fixed  upon  the  pavement,  and  had  nearly 
passed  without  recognizing  her  friend. 

"  What — who — the  name,  Carrie  ?"  she  asked  hurriedly, 
startled  out  of  her  abstraction. 

"  That  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  learn.  Mr.  Wayne 
promised  to  ascertain  it,  and  let  me  know.  What  if  it 
should  be  Mr.  Randolph  ?" 

Fadette  was  radiant  with  smiles,  and  she  turned  back 
with  her  companion,  whispering — ■ 

"  Can  you  keep  a  secret,  Carrie  ? 
that  it  is  Mr.  Randolph." 

Carrie  stopped  short,  seizing  both  Fadette's  hands. 

"  Oh,  you  dear,  delightful  schemer !  How  glad  I  am  !" 
she  cried;  "for  I  know  you  are  the  schemer.  But  take 
care  you  do  not  make  these  confessions  too  publicly,  lest 


Then  I  can  tell  you 


34  RAXDOLPU  HOXOR. 

you  chance  to  fill  your  guardian's  place.  These  very  walls 
have  ears.  I  am  dying  to  hear  all,  but  I  positively  won't 
ask  a  question  here.  May  I  come  round  to  tea  this  evening  ? 
Thank  you,  I  will  not  ftiil.  But  hush !  don't  you  see  that 
Fed.  watching  you  so  closely  from  across  the  street  ?  Cap- 
tivated, evidently.  Ah  !  here  we  are  at  Broadbent's.  Have 
you  looked  over  her  lovely  summer  mantles  ?  I  am  going 
to  indulge.  Won't  you  come  in  and  give  nie  the  benefit  of 
your  opinion  ?     Xo  ?     Well,  then,  au  revoir.''^ 

With  light  step  and  lighter  heart  Fadette  pursued  her 
way  up  Charles-street,  bestowing  joyous  greeting  upon 
friends  whom  from  time  to  time  she  met. 

On  this  sunshiny  morning  right  gay  was  Baltimore  with 
handsome  equipages  and  crowds  of  leisurely-strolling  pe- 
destrians. As  its  streets,  so  are  its  people.  No  architect 
here  legislates  the  householder  of  ton  into  tall  edifices  of 
red  brick  and  mortar,  narrow  as  the  prejudices  of  the 
builder.  No  leader  of  fashion  here  dictates  for  dress  rigid 
rules  in  style  and  coloring,  regardless  of  the  style  or  color- 
ing of  the  wearer.  But  besides  the  orthodox  brick,  a  brown, 
a  white,  a  gray,  or  other  neutral  tint,  dares  venture  in  to 
form  a  contrast  in  architecture  refreshing  to  the  eye.  And 
in  the  attire  of  the  women  is  a  rich  simplicity,  a  delicate 
blending  of  delicate  hues,  indicative  of  true  refinement. 
Many  a  round  fair  throat  gleams  from  light  folds  of  the 
snowy  embroidered  kerchief;  many  a  slight  and  graceful 
figure  is  faintly  defined  beneath  the  drooping  lace  or  cash- 
mere shawl,  the  art  of  wearing  which  few  women  better 
understand.  And  as  Fadette  daintily  raised  her  dress  in 
the  steep  ascent  beside  Washington's  monument,  hers  was 
but  one  of  the  many  Cinderella  feet  there  peeping  forth. 

Just  then  the  breeze,  which  was  blowing  freshly,  whirled 
her  sunshade  from  the  loose  clasp  of  her  hand,  and  after 
toying  a  moment  with  it,  flung   it   some  distance  down 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  35 

the  slope.  The  sunlight  was  dazzling,  the  sunshade  a  pretty 
one,  and  Fadette  remembered  Miss  Randolph's  horror  of 
carelessness ;  so  looking  after  it  with  an  impatient  gesture, 
she  began  the  pursuit. 

Hardly,  however,  had  she  done  so,  when  she  observed  a 
man  cross  over  from  the  Monument  sidewalk,  lift  the  sun- 
shade, and  advance  toward  her. 

One  view  convinced  her  of  his  identity  with  the  Federal 
officer  to  whom  her  attention  had  been  directed  by  her 
friend,  and  whom  she  had  since  noticed  keeping  her  constant- 
ly in  sight.     Annoyed  that  an  utter  stranger,  and,  moreover, 
one  "  of  that  ilk,"  should  thus  persistently  force  himself 
Upon  her  observation,  she  turned  abruptly  and  hurried  on. 
"  Pardon  me,  madam,  but  this  is  yours." 
He  had  overtaken  hen     His  manner  was  respectful ;  but 
there  was  in  it  a  command  and  a  power  which  Fadette, 
had  she  not  been  so  thoroughly  vexed,  must  have  perceived: 
a  command  which,  at  all  events,  arrested  her  involuntarily, 
and  compelled  her  eyes  to  his. 
She  stopped,  and  looked  at  him. 

There  was  that  in  the  appearance  of  the  man  which  at 
once  struck  her  quick  perception  with  a  sense  of  inc©n- 
gruity.  His  uniform,  fitted  for  medium  height,  on  the 
wearer's  tall  and  powerfully-built  frame  suggested  the  very 
opposite  extreme  of  the  two  French  cities  the  riddle  ren- 
ders famous.  Dark  hair  and  moustaches  were  certainly 
in  strange  accord  with  the  Saxon  coloring  of  the  face,  and 
the  deep-blue  eyes  regarding  her  with  scarcely  concealed 
amusement.  And  yet,  with  the  first  instant,  the  first  im-" 
pression  passed  away.  There  was  somewhat  in  the  proudly 
careless  bearing,  in  the  firm  curves  of  the  mouth,  in  the 
fearless  greeting  of  the  eyes,  which  precluded  suspicion, 
and  withal  compelled  respect.  Fadette  was  forced  to  re- 
vert to  the  uniform  to  arm  herself  again. 


36  PuiXDOLPH  HOXOR. 

She  had  unwittingly  bowed  in  acknowledgment  as  he  ex- 
tended to  her  the  parasol.  But  anon  an  impulse  seized  her, 
and  she  flung  it  into  the  street,  and  moved  on,  without  a 
glance  either  upon  him  or  upon  the  delighted  passers-by. 

To  her  surprise,  he  walked  on  by  her  side.  And  when 
she  raised  her  eyes  indignantly,  she  read  in  his,  instead  of 
resentment,  admiration  and  gratification. 

"  Do  not  j^rejudge  me  impertinent,"  he  said,  very  low, 
"  if  I  inquire  your  name." 

She  fixed  upon  him  a  haughty  stare.  But  he,  nothing 
abashed,  went  on: 

"  I  am  the  bearer  of  a  message  which  I  am  morally  cer- 
tain is  yours;  yet  the  misdelivery  of  which  it  were  not 
well  to  risk." 

She  hesitated.  Visions  of  "  durance  vile"  arose  before 
her,  and  she  felt  little  faith  in  the  message. 

But  he  waited  there  so  respectfully,  so  deferentially,  yet 
withal  so  determined  to  have  liis  will,  that  she  waxed  im- 
patient, and  defiantly  gave  her  name. 

"  To  you,  then,  I  bring  a  message  from" — his  voice  sank 
yet  lower — "Mr.  Randolph.  Do  not  regard  me  so  sus- 
piciously— I  am  not  what  I  seem." 

That  was  a  puzzled  anxious  gaze  she  raised  to  him. 
Her  thought  was  of  Mr.  Randolph  himself;  but  no  disguise 
could  thus  transform  him.  At  all  events,  this  was  a  friend, 
and  he  had  tidings — it  might  be,  tidings  of  the  escape.  A 
glad  smile  brightened  her  eyes  and  just  hovered  on  her 
lips. 

While  this  was  passing  through  her  mind,  he,  observing 
that  their  colloquy  was  attracting  attention,  said,  hastily — 

"  Appoint  me  time  and  place  of  meeting.  I  cannot  ex- 
plain here." 

A  meeting  would  scarcely  be  safe  at  the  friend's  house  at 
which  she  was  staying.     She  had  no  time  for  deliberation. 


RANDOLPU  HONOR.  37 

"  Here,  at  eight  this  evening,"  she  resj^onded,  with  cliar- 
aotei-istically  rash  promptness. 

All  this  had  passed  in  a  moment's  space. 

Meanwhile,  a  gentleman  who  had  witnessed  Fadette's 
contemptuous  treatment  of  the  officer,  and  his  unabashed 
perseverance,. came  up. 

"  Shall  I  rid  you  of  this  intruder  ?"  he  asked. 

"  If  you  please,"  she  answered  in  her  confusion,  scarcely 
cognizant  of  her  words. 

"  Take  yourself  off  quietly,  Sir,"  he  said  sternly,  "  or  you 
shall  learn  to  your  cost  how  a  Yankee  dares  insult  a 
Southern  woman." 

At  the  beginning  of  this  speech  the  "  Yankee's"  eyes 
flashed  fire ;  but  apparently  the  conclusion  was  rather  di- 
verting, for  he  smiled  as  he  turned  on  his  heel  and  sauntered 
away.  Contemptuous  glances  followed,  and  "  So  much  for 
Yankee  courage"  was  muttered  by  not  a  few. 

Fadette  is  pacing  the  floor  of  her  boudoir  in  Madison- 
street.  It  is  dusk,  and  as  she  stays  a  moment  at  the  open 
window,  watching  the  forthcoming  of  the  stars,  she  remem- 
bers with  a  sigh  of  relief  that  there  is  no  moon  to-night. 
She  listens.  From  the  street  below  arise,  faint  and  fainter, 
echoes  of  footsteps  homeward-bound  in  the  twilight. 
Through  the  house  all  is  silence.  She  opens  her  door, 
leaning  over  the  balustrade,  listening  with  head  bent  for- 
ward. Yes,  it  really  is  eight  o'clock,  for  old  John,  that  un- 
varying timepiece,  is  crossing  the  hall  to  the  drawing- 
room,  with  his  silver  waiter,  tea,  and  cake.  Now  is  her 
time.  She  has  excused  herself  to  her  friend  Carrie  and  to 
her  hostess,  on  the  plea  of  violent  headache — to  which, 
indeed,  her  throbbing  temples  painfully  testify,  as  she 
presses  her  palm  upon  them.  There  is  the  closing  of  a  door 
below,  and  then  a  footfall  on  the  stairs.     She  has  only  time 


38  RANDOLPH  UOXOR. 

to  retreat,  and  to  throw  herself  with  a  guilty  feeling  upon 
the  sofa,  before  a  servant  taps  at  the  door,  and  obeys  her 
"  Come  in,"  to  inquire  whether  she  may  bring  a  cup  of  tea. 

Xo,  Fadette  wants  nothing — oWy  perfect  quiet.  Thank 
her  Miss  Mary,  and  say  good-night  to  her,  and  to  Miss 
Randolph.  She  can  see  no  one  to-night.  And  please  send 
up  her  old  Mammy  immediately. 

Fadette  recommenced  her  aimless  wandering  about  the 
room,  drawing  back  the  lace  curtains,  restlessly  arranging 
and  rearranging  the  trinkets  upon  the  dressing-table,  and 
at  last,  with  a  hasty  movement,  overturning  the  whole 
flowery  fabric  of  a  bouquet  that  morning  sent  her. 

She  was  down  on  her  knees  before  the  wardrobe,  drag- 
ging forth  cloaks  and  mantles  and  shawls,  with  which  the 
floor  was  strewn,  when  the  door  opened  to  admit  her  "  old 
Mammy" — a  short,  dumpy,  cheer}'  mulatto,  in  bright  linsey 
and  gay  head-handkerchief 

"Absolutely  not  one  fit  to  wear,"  muttered  Fadette, 
tossing  a  cashmere  wrathfully  from  the  now  empty  drawei*. 

"  Why,  honey,  whatever  you  a  doing  to  your  pretty 
shawl?  Is  the  misery  in  your  head  so  bad?"  ejaculated 
the  new-comer,  standing  aghast  with  uplifted  hands,  and 
evidently  referring  all  this  disorder  to  cerebral  confusion. 
"There,  there  now,  come  and  lie  down  then  like  a  good 
child,  while  I  go  make  you  some  yerb  tea  that'll  bring  you 
round  in  three  shakes  of  a  sheep's  tail." 

Fadette  rose  up,  smiling  faintly — 

"  Xo,  Mammy,  your  yerb  tea  won't  help  me  just  now. 
It  is  not  only  my  head.  But  this  you  can  do  for  me — go 
get  your  every-day  shawl  and  your  big  worsted,  the  new 
one,  and  come  back  just  as  fast  as  ever  you  can.  Don't 
tell  any  one  I  sent  you." 

"  But,  honey,  there's  blankets  a  plenty  for  this  warm 
nisrht,  and — " 


BANDOLPII  HONOR.  30 

"  I'll  hear  about  the  blankets  when  you  come  back,  Mum- 
my.    ISTow  go." 

On  her  reappearance,  Fadette  took  the  "big  worsted" 
from  her  arm,  and  folded  it  over  her  own  head  in  such  a 
manner  that  it  enveloped  her  almost  to  the  feet. 

She  stood  before  the  Psyche-glass,  surveying  herself, 
w^ell-pleased.     Then  she  turned  to  her  servant : 

"  Mammy,"  she  said  gayly,  "  would  you  swear  it  wasn't 
you,  if  you  met  it  in  the  dark  ?" 

"  Why,  honey,  you  ain't  never  gwine  out  that  a  way !" 

"  Precisely.     You  put  on  the  other  shawl.     Quick !" 

She  hesitated.  Suddenly  a  thought  struck  her.  She 
asked  anxiously: 

"  You  ain't  never  after  meeting  that  ugly  man  as  comes 
a  courting  you  with  floAvers  and  sich  foolishness?  You 
ain't  gwine  for  to  offerize  yourself  to  run  away  from  Mars' 
Lloyd,  and  him  in  jail  ?" 

Fadette  laughed. 

"  No  indeed.  Mammy,  I  am  not  going  to  do  all  that.  I 
am  only  going  a  square  or  two,  as  far  as  the  Monument,  to 
meet  a  gentleman  who  has  news  of  your  Mars'  Lloyd..  But 
we  must  not  let  any  one  know,  lest  the  Yankees  hear  it.  I 
am  only  trusting  you.     You  will  go  now,  won't  you  ?" 

When  Fadette  had  lowered  her  light,  and  locked  her 
door  upon  the  outside,  the  two  cautiously  descended  the 
Flairs  and  passed  out  at  the  hall-door ; — an  irregular  pro- 
ceeding on  the  part  of  servants,  the  latter,  at  which  the 
lady  mistress  would  have  been  properly  horrified.  But 
Fadette  was  in  no  mood  to  concern  herself  with  aught  but 
the  shortest  mode  of  egress. 

She  had  little  more  than  a  square  to  traverse,  and  that 
was  accomplished  with  so  swift  a  step,  that  her  attendant 
had  much  ado  to  keep  pace. 

It  was  quite  dark  as  she  paused  beneath  a  lamp-post, 


40     ■  EAXDOLPH  HOSOR. 

and,  covertly  consulting  her  watch,  saw  that  it  was  a  full 
quarter  past  eight. 

Along  the  opposite  sidewalk  wavered  a  slender  stream 
of  passengers,  and  now  and  then  went  by  a  carriage  or  two. 
But  here,  upon  the  Monument  side,  was  no  one  save  Fa- 
dette  and  her  servant. 

Hardly,  however,  had  she  withdrawn  into  the  friendly 
shadow  the  Monument  extended,  when  a  man  crossed  the 
street,  and  standing  where  she  had  stood,  drew  forth  his 
watch.  The  gaslight  streamed  full  upon  his  Federal 
uniform. . . 

Glancing  around  as  if  in  search  of  some  one,  he  was  pass- 
ing Fadette. 

She  feared  to  trust  to  the  cursory  view  she  had  caught 
of  his  face,  to  identify  her  mysterious  follower  of  the  morn- 
ing.    She  resolved  to  test  him  before  disclosing  herself. 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  advancing  with  unassumed  timidity, 
"have  you  seen  any  thing  of  a  parasol  dropped  near 
here?" 

He  stopped,  and  looked  at  her  earnestly. 

"It  is  you,  then,"  he  said,  bowing  low.  "But  whom 
have  you  there — one  you  can  trust  ?" 

"Oh,  yes.  But — Mammy,"  she  added,  "remain  here. 
I  am  not  going  out  of  sight,  only  to  yonder  tree,  while  this 
gentlemen  speaks  to  me." 

Beneath  the  shade  they  paused,  confronting  one  another. 
Fadette  raised  her  eyes  inquiringly. 

"  You  will  not,  I  trust,  deem  me  impertinent  in  request- 
ing this  interview,"  he  said,  "  when  I  explain  the  danger  in 
which  r  stand.  I  escaped  last  evening  from  Fort  McHenry, 
and—" 

"  With  Mr.  Randolph  ?"  she  interrupted. 

He  glanced  at  her  in  surprise. 

"  Mr.  Randolph  is  still  there.     But  what  is  the  matter  ?" 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  41 

he  asked  anxiously,  as  she  leaned  against  the  tree,  covering 
her  face  with  her  hands. 

"  Nothing — nothing — go  on,"  she  said  impatieutly.  "  Go 
on.     Tell  me  of  him." 

"  Mr.  Randolph  and  I  have  been  for  several  days  fellow- 
prisoners,"  he  resumed,  when  she  had  again  signed  to  him 
to  do  so.  "  We  were  soon  friends,  and  I  confided  to  him 
that  I  am  the  bearer  of  secret  and  important  information 
to  the  Confederate  army  in  Virginia.  Detention  of  a  few 
weeks  would  render  my  information  unavailing,  and  I 
spoke  of  my  great  anxiety.  He  immediately  offered  a  way 
of  escape,  if  I  were  adventurous  eiiough  to  hazard  it.  Most 
gratefully  did  I  accept  the  ofier,  and  am  here." 

"  And  that  way  ?"  was  the  eager  questioning  of  eyes  and 
lips. 

"  Next  day  he  gave  into  my  possession  the  uniform  I 
now  w^ear — procured,  doubtless,  by  bribery  of  the  guard. 
He  would,  very  prudently,  enter  into  no  explanation  upon 
the  subject." 

A  violent  start,  and  the  hands  clenched  over  her  face. 
A  quick  passing  shiver  shook  her;  but  he  saw  nothing, 
drawing  forth  a  pocket-book,  and  intent  on  searching 
among  the  letters  in  it  in  the  uncertain  light. 

"  Go  on,  go  on ;  tell  me  of  the  escape — your  escape  he 
planned — I  will  have  all,  all,"  she  cried,  impeiiously,  in  the 
silence. 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders  slightly,  but  obeyed.     " 

"Last  evening,  just  after  retreat,  before  the  prisoners 
were  locked  in  for  the  night,  I  donned  this  livery,  and 
when  the  sentinel's  back  was  turned,  made  my  ejcit  from 
the  prison-door,  and  strolled  leisurely  up  the  ramp  to  the 
parapet.  Once  there,  I  had  but  to  select  a  solitary  part  of 
the  wall  and  my  lightning-rod,  and  there  I  was,  making 
the  circuit  of  the  camp  pitched  upon  the  south  side  of  the 


42  RANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

fort,  as  unmistakable  a  defender  of  the  Union  as  any  there. 
Ere  long  the  hue-and-cry  after  the  escaped  prisoner  was 
raised,  and  the  supernumerary  volunteer  took  to  the  water, 
standing  for  hours  chin-deep,  diving  do\^Ti  when  boats  out 
in  search  occasionally  approached.  However,  after  various 
adventures  by  flood  and  field,  I  reached  Baltimore.  This 
morning  I  introduced  myself  to  a  group  of  comrade  blue- 
coats  in  front  of  Barnum's,  and  learned  the  sequel  so  far  as 
the  fort  was  concerned.  But  a  short  while  elapsed  before 
an  officer  passed  by  our  guard-room,  and  perceiving  from 
light  streaming  through  that  the  door  was  ajar,  ordered 
the  sentinel  to  close  it.  The  fellow  opened  first,  and  seeing 
but  one  prisoner  within,  stood  there  asking  questions,  to 
which  Mr.  Randolph  replied  in  such  a  manner  as  to  detain 
him  as  long  as  possible.  Thus  some  moments  were  gained 
before  the  officer  peremptorily  demanded  the  subject  under 
discussion.  And  by  those  moments  I  was  saved.  Words 
can  never  measure  my  debt  of  gratitude  to  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph." 

He  ended.  Fadette's  face  was  still  concealed.  She  mur- 
mured, brokenly — 

"  God  forgive  you ;  I  cannot.  You  have  taken  away 
the  escape  I  planned  for  him." 

"  Great  Heaven — for  him  ! — is  that  possible  ?"  he  stam- 
mered. 

"  It  is  true,"  she  replied,  coldly. 

"At  least  do  me  the  justice  to  believe,"  he  said,  afler  a 
short  silence,  "that  through  ignorance  I  have  done  this. 
I,  fool  that  I  was,  imagined  him  wanting  in  the  hardihood 
needful  to  such  an  attempt.  I  go  this  instant  to  deliver 
myself  up  to  the  authorities.  Perhaps  they  may  then  be 
generous  enough  to  release  him." 

"  Stay,"  she  cried,  as  he  turned  away ;  "  for  Heaven's 
sake  do  nothing  so  rash.     I  was  unjust.     A  proper  plea  for 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  43 

his  release,  truly,  that  he  assisted  the  escape  of  anothei 
prisoner !  Remember  your  despatches,  your  duty,  youi 
and  his  country.  Mr.  Randolph  is  right,  and  I  was  wrong. 
I,  who  best  know  him,  know  he  would  not  easily  forgive 
me,  should  words  of  mine  occasion  your  return.  I  will  not 
leave  you  without  your  promise  to  continue  to  Virginia. 
Do  not  look  as  if  you  felt  any  gratitude  to  me.  With  all 
my  heart,  aye,  with  all  my  soul,  I  would  you  were  in  any 
dungeon,  and  he  stood  free  where  now  you  stand.  But 
being  here,  you  are  not  your  own — you  hold  a  place,  how- 
ever insignificant,  in  the  gap.  When  were  you  to  leave 
Baltimore  ?" 

And  did  she  mean  to  march  him  on  in  FalstaiF's  ranks  ? 
"  '  Tut,  tut,  good  enough  to  toss ;  food  for  powder,  food  for 
powder ;  they'll  fill  a  pit  as  well  as  better,'  "  he  muttered 
between  his  teeth. 

But  the  smile  at  her  imperiousness  was  stayed  upon  hig 
lip  by  the  restless  anguish  of  her  eyes.     He  simply  replied : 

"To-night." 

"Promise,  then.  N'ay,  you  must,  you  must.  He  will 
else  be  so  grieved  with  me  !"  In  her  impatience  she  wrung 
her  hands. 

And  the  promise  was  given.  For  he  felt  he  was  not  now 
free  to  follow  the  dictates  of  generosity ;  and  that  her  ar- 
gument, however  unflattering  in  terms,  was  nevertheless  a 
true  one. 

"And  is  this  all?"  she  asked,  again  adjusting  the  shawl 
which  in  her  excitement  had  fallen  from  her  *  shoul- 
ders. 

He  glanced  admiringly  down  upon  the  fairy  who  thus 
assumed  all  Queen  Mab's  sovereign  mien.  He  lost,  for  a 
moment,  the  sensation  of  his  own  almost  remorseful  pain, 
in  the  view  of  those  dark,  bright  eyes,  flashing  upon  him 
involuntarily  ;  of  the  red  lips,  which  scarcely  quivered  out 


44  RAynOLPH  HOyOR. 

of  their  curve  of  angry  scorn ;  of  the  wondrously  tiny 
dimpled  hand,  winch  now  drew  closer  those  uglier  than 
ever  woollen  folds. 

"  I  was  bidden,"  he  said,  "  to  give  you  the  minutiie  of  the 
escape,  which  Avei-e  of  his  planning,  I  being  a  stranger  to 
the  vicinity ;  and  to  place  in  your  own  hands  this  letter. 
Hearing  you  accosted  by  name,  this  moming,  in  the  street, 
I  followed,  thinking  in  this  way  to  arrange  an  interview 
with  greater  security  to  both.  I  beg  your  pardon  for  the 
annoyance  I  occasioned." 

Coldly  but  gracefully  she  said  farewell,  and  would  have 
parted  thus.     But  he  detained  her,  saying : 

"  Permit  me  to  give  my  name,  that  hereafter  when  we 
meet,  you  may  know  me  no  impostor.     I  am — " 

"Xo,  no,"  she  interrupted,  "that  meeting  is  far  from 
probable :  but  if  it  should  ever  be,  why  embitter  it  by  this 
remembrance  ?     Pardon  me — I  know  it  is  unjust." 

He  bowed  low,  leaving  her  without  another  word ;  and 
recrossing  the  street,  he  was  soon  lost  to  Fadette's  sight, 
although  he  guarded  her  at  a  distance  until  she  reached 
the  house. 

"  A  letter  from  Mars'  Lloyd,  Mammy,"  she  said,  display- 
ing the  treasured  paper  to  her  faithful  servant  as  they 
hastened  homeward.  "I  have  not  read  it  yet,  but  he  is 
well.  That  gentleman  was  in  prison  with  him,  and  your 
master  assisted  him  to  escape." 

"  He  oughtn't  to  a'sisted  nobody.  He  ought  to  a  come 
himself,"  Mammy  exclaimed,  resentfully. 

"  Xo.  It  was  good  and  great  in  him.  I  love  him  for  it. 
Xow  remember,  this  is  a  secret  all  between  our  two  selves,'* 
she  reminded,  as  they  slipped  in  at  the  alley-gate  and  round 
to  the  now  deserted  kitchen  department,  whence  Fadette 
gained  her  chamber  unobserved. 

The  door  secured,  she  drew  a  low  chair  beneath  the  light, 


BANDOLPII  HONOR.  45 

and  impatiently  dashing  away  the  long  pent-up  tears,  un- 
folded lier  guardian's  missive. 

She  started,  on  perceiving  that  it  was  in  her  own  hand- 
writing. She  examined  it  closely.  Yes,  there  were  flower- 
stains  upon  the  paper,  and  it  bore  marks  of  having  been 
crumpled  up  in  a  bouquet.     Thus  ran  the  note : 

"  I  have  told  you  to  study  the  language  of  flowers. 
These  say :  '  In  the  bottom  of  the  portmanteau,  beneath 
the  third  brass  nail  on  the  left  as  you  open,  is  a  secret 
spring.  Press  this  firmly:  the  bottom  is  false,  and  you 
will  find  beneath,  a  Yankee  uniform.  It  is  a  friend  in  need, 
by  which  I  pray  you  will  escape.  Perhaps  I  should  send 
the  uniform  of  a  Confederate  soldier  instead.  Stanch  Balti- 
more has  not  made  a  renegade  of  me — I  only  desist  for  im- 
portant reasons.  Don't  be  disappointed,  time  will  rectify 
that.  I  will  remain  in  Baltimore,  with  Aunt  Randolph, 
until  I  hear.     I  look  for  you  daily.'  " 

As  she  scrutinized  it,  at  a  loss  for  her  guardian's  mean- 
in<y,  she  observed  that  beneath  some  words  were  indenta- 
tions,  as  though  purposely  marked. 

And  dropping  all  save  the  underlined  words,  she  readily 
construed  his  message : 

"  Beneath  a  Yankee  uniform,  a  friend  I  pray  will  escape — 
a  Confederate  soldier  instead  of  me,  for  important  reasons. 
Don't  be  disappointed,  time  will  rectify.  Remain  in  Balti- 
more with  Aunt  Randolph.     I  look  for  you  daily." 


CHAPTER  Y. 


CAPTUKE    OF    THE    ST.    XICHOLAS. 


"  Courage,"  he  eaid,  and  pointed  toward  the  land, 
"  This  mounting  wave  will  roll  us  shoreward  soon.'' 

Tekntsox. 


IgERE  we  are  at  last,  grace  au  cocker  P''  cried  Fa- 
dette,  putting  her  head  out  of  the  window  as  the 
carriaore   drove   on   throuo-h   Lii?ht-street  to  the 


wharf.  "Only  just  in  time,  too,  for  there  is  the  St.  Nich- 
olas puffing  and  blowing  in  most  unsaintly  impatience  to 
be  gone." 

And  so  was  every  one  else,  apparently.  Passengers, 
freiojht,  luggage,  scattered  together  in  elaborate  confusion. 
People  seemed  to  possess,  indeed,  a  single  eye,  and  that 
bent  unmovedly  upon  one  trunk,  or  collection  of  trunks,  to 
the  overlooking  of  all  intervening  heads,  backs,  or  ambula- 
tory mediums. 

"Do  look  at  that  fussy  woman,"  whispered  Fadette  to  her 
friend  Carrie,  when  they  stood  together  on  the  guards, 
Miss  Randolph  having  retired  into  the  cabin  with  a  "  dear 
familiar  friend"  of  her  own.  "  Just  hear  her,  still  d  propos 
of  that  everlasting  pink  silk  bonnet.  I  do  believe  she 
takes  dapper  old  Mr.  Xorton  for  a  man-milliner.  Only 
listen :  *  de  Paris' — '  me  sied  a  ^nerveilW — '  au  desespoir  if  it 
be  loss.'  I  should  like  to  see  her  in  it.  She  might,  with  her 
stature,  be  a  grenadier  in  petticoats,  were  it  not  for  the  in- 
imitable French-ladyhood  perceptible  in  every  movement. 
See,  what  would  you   not  give  for  that  unlearnable,  un- 


RANDOLPH  HONOB.  41 

translatable  shrug?  And  what  a  handsome  foot!"  she 
added,  as  the  object  of  her  remarks  passed  leisurely  into 
the  ladies'  cabin,  raising  her  dress  to  shake  off  a  wisp  of 
straw  thereto  adhering,  or  to  display  the  foot  in  its  delicate 
French  boot. 

"  What  a  number  of  workmen  !"  cried  Carrie,  the  coquet- 
tish eye-glass  she  affected  levelled  toward  the  wharf 
"  Where  on  earth  can  they  all  be  going  ?" 

"  To  work  on  the  Rip  Raps,  probably.  I  hear  it  is  to  be 
completed  with  desperate  energy.  Or,  perhaps,  to  erect 
a  Bastille  for  our  accommodation  on  the  Eastern  shore. 
Why,  there  are  two  parties,  are  there  not  ?  each  regarding 
the  other  somewhat  jealously,  methinks.  But  no,  the  last 
is  not  embarking.     Confusion  in  the  building  of  Babel !" 

Now  the. boat  pushed  off,  and  the  girls  took  their  seats 
on  the  guards.  Carrie,  lounging  on  her  bench,  was  soon 
deep  in  the  pages  of  a  new  novel,  now  and  then  looking  up 
to  yawn,  or  to  stretch  out  her  hand  lazily  for  the  paper  of 
bonbons  lying  on  Fadette's  lap. 

Fadette's  book  lay  with  the  leaves  yet  uncut.  Her  arm 
rested  on  the  railing,  her  eyes  wandered  over  the  green 
waters,  which  the  breeze  was  now  cresting  with  white,  to 
the  verdant  slopes  beyond,  where  rose  the  yellow  walls  of 
Fort  McHenry.  Above  them  waved  the  stars  and  stripes, 
and  upon  the  parade-ground  she  could  see  squads  of  re- 
cruits drilling,  wdiile  strains  of  martial  music  wafted  faintly 
on.  She  set  her  teeth  and  drew  a  hard  breath,  as  she 
thought  of  the  dungeon  within,  Avhence  her  guardian  had 
but  yesterday  been  removed,  only  to  exchange  it  for  the 
dreaded  Fort  Lafayette.  Since  she  could  see  him  no  more, 
she  had  yielded  to  much  urging,  and  was  now  bound,  with 
Carrie  and  Miss  Randolph,  on  a  visit  to  a  gay  and  hospit- 
able country-house  in  Somerset. 

She  was  roused  from  meditations  sad  and  hopeful  by  the 


48  RANDOLPH  IIOXOR. 

approach  of  two  of  those  workmen  upon  whose  advent  she 
and  Carrie  had  commented.  Probably  they  would  have 
drawn  no  further  attention  as  they  passed  her  by,  save  that 
one  of  them  seated  hunself  straightway  on  the  bench  close 
beside  Carrie. 

He  was  a  weather-beaten,  roughly  attired  stripling,  his 
general  air  of  swaggering  rowdyhood  certainly  not  dimin- 
ished by  a  flaming  bandana,  disposed  bandage-wise  over 
one  eye,  and  a  cap  slouched  very  much  over  the  other. 
He  deposited  his  pickaxe  against  the  bench  between  Carrie 
and  hunself,  with  the  manner  of  one  who  has  found  a  haven 
of  comfort,  and  does  not  mean  to  desert  it. 

His  companion  had  moved  to  a  distance,  and  stood  lean- 
ing on  the  railing,  watching  the  spray-eddies  as  they  dashed 
up  from  the  wheel,  and  then  smoothed  out  in  long  lines  in 
its  wake.  He  also  was  in  laborer^s  dress,  and  bore  slung 
across  his  shoulder  a  sack  of  tools.  But  Fadette's  wa.s  not 
so  cursory  a  view  here.  There  was  that  in  the  thoughtful 
attitude  of  the  bowed  head,  in  the  careless  easy  pose  of  the 
powerful  figure,  which  prolonged  it.  Now  he  turned,  look- 
ing over  his  shoulder  at  his  comrade,  with  a  half-smile. 
Fadette,  thus  meeting  the  full  face,  was  struck  with  a  quick 
sense  of  recognition.  But  in  a  moment  she  had  argued  it 
away.  That  bushy  beard,  and  the  shock  of  auburn-red 
hair,  were  too  noticeable  for  a  remembrance  so  vague. 
Even  as  she  thought  this,  a  change  in  his  position  brought 
a  pair  of  deep  blue  eyes  full  upon  her.  With  them  flashed 
back  her  first  impression.  Confused,  she  knew  not  why, 
she  opened  her  book  hastily.  She  read  on  for  a  few  para- 
graphs, and  had  already  lost  herself  in  the  story,  when  a 
'movement  from  her  friend  aroused  her.  And  even  as  she 
raised  her  head,  she  met  those  deep  eyes  again,  fixed  on 
her  with  a  strange  intensity,  yet  not  with  the  rudeness  of 
a  stare. 


RANDOLPH  UONOR 


49 


^  Annoyed,  and  still  more  annoyed  with  herself  for  color 
frLd  ^""^^^^  '^^  ^^^^  '*'''^'  "^'^^  ^"^  appealing  glance  to  her 
Meantime,  Carrie,  without  lifting  her  eyes  from  the  pa^e 
had  withdrawn  .herself  slightly  from  the  juxtaposition  of 
him  of  the  pickaxe.  But  he  was  not  thus  to  be  distanced. 
He  bent  forward,  resting  two  brown  hands  on  his  knees 
and  deliberately  peered  round  the  modishly-large  bonnet 
at  the  pretty  blooming  face  within.  That  face  was  still 
vei-y  unconsciously  bent  over  the  book;  for  the  seat  was 
a  pleasant  one,  and  its  possessor  had  not  the  faintest  idea 
of  exchanging  it  for  the  close  ladies'  cabin,  whence  scream- 
i<ig  children  proclaimed  infant  minstrelsy  itinerant,-audi. 
tors  admitted  at  the  expense  of  their  equanimity.  O  that 
V  ox  Fopuli ! 

^  '^'By  George!  She  ain't  a  Plu^-Ugly— not  she!"  Car- 
rie s  neighbor  cried  out  to  his  companion,  with  an  approv- 
ing nod  toward  her.  • 

"Faith,  I  do  believe  she's  a  Blood-Tub,"  he  added,  as 
the  subject  of  his  remarks,  reddening  with  anger,  arose 
Drawing  her  shawl  around  her,  she  swept  away  to  the 
cabin,  followed  by  Fadette,  who  could  not  restrain  a  rmo- 
ing  laugh  at  her  friend's  indignant  denunciation  of  «  our 
absurd  Baltimore  political  sobriquets— "  Blood-Tub  in- 
deed !"  ' 

t-es,  the  cabin  was  heated— was  squally,  as  tempests  in- 
crease m  torrid  atmospheres.     But  there  was  no  help  for  it 
and  the  girls  quietly  resigned  themselves  to  their  fate,  Car- 
rie ensconcing  herself  on  a  sofa  for  a  long  nap,  and  Fadette 
opening  her  neglected  book. 

The  French  lady  formed  the  centre  of  quite  a  host  of 
anxious  matrons.  This  one's  cherub  was  teething-Rose- 
bud or  Lily  was  a  victim  to  convulsions— and  Madame's 
petit  ange,  Vatne,  or  la  cadette,  had  passed  through  all— 


50  RAXDOLPH  HOXOR. 

this  or  that  simple  remede  innocent,  tout  innocent,  lui  ci 
sauve,  what  is  clat  you  call — cle  life  ? 

Time  passed  on.  P'adette  lingered  in  the  "  Red  Deeps" 
with  Maggie  Tulliver  and  Philip,  and  Carrie  soundly  slum- 
bered in  the  red  deeps  of  her  sofa. 

Time  passed  on,  it  is  true.  But  Fadette  thought  him 
quite  at  a  stand-still,  and  growing  very  weary  of  her  close 
precincts,  went  to  the  door  to  reconnoitre. 

The  guards  were  deserted,  and  she  drew  a  stool  to  the 
railing,  toward  the  further  end,  where  an  awning  had  foUen 
from  its  fastenings  at  one  side,  and  now,  as  she  took  her 
seat  behind,  drooped,  completely  concealing  her. 

Engrossed  in  her  book,  she  read  on  without  lifting  her 
head,  or  rustling  her  covert  by  a  movement. 

No  one  was  there  to  break  upon  her  solitude ;  and  when 
at  last  she  heard  approaching  steps,  the  new-comei-s  were 
concealed  from  her,  and  she  felt  secure  from  observation. 
The  awning  closed  out  the  view  like  a  white  wall,  and  for 
some  time  she  read  on,  taking  no  heed,  and  distinguishing 
only  a  murmur  of  deep-toned  voices;  when  suddenly,  in 
a  momentary  lulling  of  the  breeze,  while  the  waves  hushed, 
and  the  flapping  sail-cloth  hung  down  motionless,  two  wor^s 
aroused  her  into  attention : 

" captured  saint." 

"  Aye,"  responded  the  other ;  and  on  her  awakened  ear 
the  tones  fell  with  somewhat  of  a  remembered  sound — "  the 
hour  draws  near.  AYe  must  strike  successfully,  for,  be  the 
achievement  in  itself  great  or  small,  it  is  the  initial  effort 
of  more  than  one  of  your  gallant  young  Baltimoreans,  and 
*  d  barbe  de/ol  on  opprend  d  raire.'^  " 

Fadette  started.  And  in  that  start,  her  book  fell  from 
her  knee  with  a  distinct  crash. 

She  had  no  time  to  collect  her  scattered  ideas,  and  to 
calm  the  vague  terror  which  had  seized  upon  her  in  those 


BANDOLPH  HONOR.  51 

mysterious  words.     For  even  as  one  of  her  unseen  neigh- 
bors uttered  a  hasty  exclamation,  the  other  had  drawn  aside 
the  awning,  and  now  confronted  her  with  presented  pistol. 
But  he  dropped  the  muzzle  on  the  instant,  and  his  stern- 
set  mouth  relaxed  into  a  smile. 

With  a  rapid  apology  to  Fadette,  he  turned  to  his  com- 
panion, the  hedger  and  ditcher,  for  whose  edification  he 
had  quoted  the  French  proverb. 

"  We  are  safe  with  this  young  lady.  She  is  not  unknown 
to  me,"  he  said. 

Fadette  looked  up  hurriedly  as  his  comrade  bowed  and 
moved  away.  She  had  not  been  wrong,  then,  in  her  im- 
pression. For  he  who  stood  before  her  was  the  man  whose 
glance  and  whose  voice  had  thrilled  her  with  that  indefina- 
ble remembrance. 

But  he  was  apparently  in  no  *haste  to  substantiate  his 
assertion.  He  merely  remained  there  with  absent  gaze 
fixed  upon  the  waters,  until  she  rose,  embarrassed. 

"Stay,"  he  said  then,  detaining  her  with  a  gesture,  "and 
let  me  say  how  much  I  am  indebted  to  this  dingy  old  can- 
vas for  fonning  so  opportune  a  screen,  thus  forcing  you  to 
become  in  a  measure  one  of  the  conspirators,  and  enabling 
me  to  take  you  wholly  into  our  confidence.  You  are  as- 
tonished ?  I  am  not  indeed  rash  enough  to  profier  this  to 
an  entire  stranger.  We  shall  presently  make  ourselves 
masters  of  this  boat,  and  run  her  across  to  the  Virginia 
shore.  That  gained,  the  passengers  shall  be  convoyed 
safely  and  speedily  back  to  Maryland.  Trust  me,  there  is 
no  cause  for  fear.  Nay,  I  see  you  are  not  thinking  of  that, 
with  your  kindling  eyes,  your  joyfully  clasped  hands,  your 
half-smile  of  expectancy.  I  know  well  you  reck  little  of 
greater  risk  than  this.  But  I  rely  upon  you  now  to  with- 
draw quietly  into  the  saloon,  where  the  ending  of  the  plot 
will  make  itself  manifest  before  the  beginning." 


52  BAXDOLPH  HOXOR. 

She  thanked  him  eagerly,  as  he  walked  with  her  to  the 
entrance  of  the  saloon.  And,  compelling  herself  to  tran- 
quillity, she  sank  back  in  an  easy-chair,  hiding  her  face 
upon  its  arm,  and  tapping  with  her  foot  impatiently,  as  she 
counted  the  slow,  slow  minutes,  until  a  sudden  tumult 
without  hurried  her  to  the  door. 

Thither  rushed  all  the  womankind ;  but  the  French  lady 
was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  She  was  to  be  heard  of,  however ; 
and  astonishment  among  all,  delight  among  the  many,  dis- 
may among  the  few,  followed  upon  the  hearing. 

The  officers  of  the  boat  had  been  relieved  from  their  ar- 
duous duties :  the  boat  was  in  the  hands  of  a  party  of 
Southerners — mechanics — and  the  quondam  French  lady, 
the  gallant  and  daring  Zarvona,  at  their  head. 

The  St.  Nicholas  speedily  made  for  the  Virginia  shore. 
The  French  lady  was  the  centre  of  attraction,  when  Fa- 
dette  withdrew  from  the  animated  circle. 

She  was  looking  wistfully  toward  the  banks,  which 
neared,  moment  by  moment,  and  indulging  in  a  feminine 
longing  that  the  trunk  wherewith  she  had  set  out  for 
Somerset  could,  by  some  means,  be  transformed  into  that 
vast  "  Xoah's  ark,"  without  which  a  sojourn  in  Dixie  was 
not  to  be  thought  of;  but  with  which  she  vaguely  specu- 
lated she  might  possibly  have  won  her  way  to  Charleston 
in  defiance  of  withholden  passport.  Her  abstraction  was 
broken  in  upon  by  an  approaching  step,  and  glancing  up, 
she  recognized  her  self-styled  friend  the  mechanic. 

He  leaned  beside  her  on  the  railing,  watching  the  shores, 
where  sands  and  woodlands  now  marked  the  margin  of  the 
crested  waves ;  but  when  he  entered  into  conversation,  it 
was  only  as  any  of  his  comrades  might  have  done,  while 
etiquette  was  lost  sight  of  in  the  excitement  of  strange  in- 
cident and  community  of  sympathies.  He  made  no  refer- 
ence to  that  claun  of  old  acquaintance ;  but  appeared  con- 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  .  53 

tent  that  the  new  was  being  established  on  quite  a  friendly 
footing.  And  ere  Miss  Randolph  presently  beckoned  her 
apart,  Fadette  had  confided  to  him  her  southward  journey 
in  prospect,  and  he,  as  they  parted,  held  out  his  hand  in  a 
matter-of-course  manner,  with  the  assurance  that  in  Dixie 
they  would  meet  again.  It  had  seemed,  at  the  moment, 
also  a  matter  of  course  that  she  should  yield  her  hand, 
although  in  the  next  instant  her  color  rose.  But  embar- 
rassment was  forgotten  in  merry  laughter  when  she  reached 
Miss  Randolph's  side. 

"  Oh,  my  dear,  my  dear !"  that  lady  whispered,  with  a 
horrified  countenance.  "  To  think  of  my  having  told  her 
— him — of  my  wearing  all  last  winter  a  strengthening- 
plaster  on  the  small  of  my  back !" 

Carrie  laid  her  dainty  gloved  hand  upon  the  fustian 
sleeve^f  the  hero  of  the  pickaxe. 

"  To  think,"  she  cried,  "  of  this  ne'er-do-weel  brother  of 
mine  calling  me  a  Blood-Tub !" 


CHAPTER  VI. 

irNDERGKOUXD    EAILTN'AY. 

'  Oh  the  birds,  the  trees,  the  ruddy 

And  white  blossoms  sleek  with  rain  I 
Oh  my  garden  rich  with  pansies  I 
Oh  my  childhood's  bright  romances ! 

All  revive  .... 

And  I  see  them  stir  again  !" 

Mrs.  Brow>'txg. 


RIGHTLY  shone  the  October  evening  sitfi  over 
broad-leaved  undulating  tobacco-fields,  and  aslant 
throusfh  shadowinsc  trees  and  tall  heds^erows,  when 
along  an  mifrequented  by-road  passed  a  light  spring- 
wagon.  Its  occupants,  besides  a  trio  of  struggling  chick- 
ens, a  hamper  of  eggs,  and  basket  heaped  with  luscious 
white  October  peaches,  were  a  stout,  ruddy,  brown-visaged 
young  countryman,  and  apparently  Joan,  his  small  wife, 
sunburnt  and  smiling,  within  immense  beruffled  sun-bonnet. 

On  trotted  the  strong-built  bay,  faster  and  faster,  at  the 
reminder  of  whip  and  rein,  while  the  two  sat  together  on 
the  broad  seat  in  front,  and  chatted  in  low  tones. 

"To  Nanjeriioy?  how  far  did  you  say?"  was  Madam 
Joan's  question. 

"  Oh,  not  more  than  four  or  five  miles  now.  You  are 
not  tired  ?" 

"  Have  you  forgot  my  ancient  powers  of  endurance  ?" 

' "  When  we  used  to  rove  aU  Calvert  through  on  black- 
berry raids,  and   march  home  at  sunset,  you  with   your 


■      RANDOLPH  nONOR.  55 

apron,  I  with  my  roundabout,  deeply  dyed  in  the  blood 
of  the  slain — standing  repentant  but  happy  in  the  library 
doorway ;  while  our  Mentor  would  look  up  from  his  easy- 
chair,  and  lay  aside  his  book,  and  shake  his  head  with 
scarcely  successful  gravity,  we  solemnly  vowing  to  do  so 
*  never  no  more' — until  next  Saturday." 

The  smile  vanished  from  her  lip,  and  she  fixed  her  eyes 
gravely  on  him,  as  she  asked  : 

"What,  think  you,  would  he  say  to  this  escapade  of 
mine  ?  Oh,  I  am  so  sorry  I  started  !  I've  a  great  mind  to 
stop  at  Nanjemoy,  and  get  Mrs.  Leigh  to  send  me  home 
again." 

He  looked  at  her  quickly.  He  leaned  forward  and  gave 
the  horse  a  sudden  lash,  which  made  him  bound  oiF.  Then 
checking  him  with  a  jerk,  he  turned  again,  flushed,  to  his- 
companion. 

"  What,  after  all  your  persuasions  to  my  aunt — all  your 
arguments  to  convince  her  that  you  were  right,  and  then 
to  return,  thereby  convicting  yourself  of  headstrong  folly ! 
And  your  trunks  already  at  Nanjemoy !" 

"  More  headstrong  to  go  on  than  to  go  back,  if  there  be 
folly  in  the  question." 

"  What  nonsense  !"  he  cried,  angrily.  "  As  if  my  brother 
could  object,  when  it  was  at  his  instance  that  you  have 
applied  again  and  again  for  a  pass  to  go  where  you  may 
be  to-morrow,  without  waiting  for  that  which,  ten  chances 
to  one,  may  not  be  granted.  What  is  it,  after  all,  but  a 
friend  to  visit,  a  river  to  cross  ? — and  lo  !  we  are  in  Dixie." 

"  But  the  Potomac  is  no  brook  over  which  you  can  carry 
me  safely,  as  when  we  were  children.  And  its  Virginia 
shores  are  not  South  Carolina." 

"  True,  O  most  learned  Geographess.  And  therefore  the 
pleasanter  jaunt  we  shall  have,  even  unto  the  shores  of 
South  Carolina." 


56  BAXDOLPH  HOXOR.      ' 

She  smiled  duljiously,  objecting — 

*'  But  the  Yankees  ?" 

*'  Not  the  sign  of  one  in  our  zodiac.  Besides,  who  would 
think  of  interfering  with  two  staid  country-folk  such  as  we — 
bona  fide  clod-hopper  and  shepherdess?" 

"  Shade  of  AVatteau  forbid  !  But  it  is  astonishing  how  a 
little  brown  wash  metamorphoses  you." 

"  I  do  not  find  the  change  in  you  so  amaz — " 

"  Hold  your  peace,  Impertinence,  or  I  assume  rustic  man- 
ners to  match  my  rustic  garb,  and  bestow  upon  your  ears 
a  reminder  that  '  neat-handed  Phyllis'  is  not  light-handed 
as  the  Lady  Dulciuea." 

The  straggling  hedgerows  lengthen,  and  the  dusky  har- 
vesters, in  bordering  fields,  begin  to  cease  from  their  labors. 
Only  that  wood  at  yonder  bend  in  the  road  hides  Xanje- 
moy,  and  the  white  walls  are  asserting  themselves  through 
every  wavering  shadow.  And  there  is  a  silvery  glimpse 
of  the  Potomac.  The  bay  is  going  over  the  ground  in 
gallant  style,  when  suddenly — 

"Haltr^ 

And  at  the  challenge,  from  the  covert  of  low-sweeping 
trees  and  thicket  shielding  from  vicAV  that  abrupt  angle, 
half  a  dozen  soldiers  of  a  picket-camp  started  up  from  their 
full-length  card-playing  on  the  sward. 

Bumpkin  has  considerable  difficulty  in  reining  in  his 
steed,  accomplishes  it  at  last  with  unsteady  hand,  and  reels 
slightly  toward  his  comj^anion,  to  whom  he  contrives  to 
whisper : 

"  Xever  fear — they'll  release  us  in  a  few  minutes.  Fme 
flow  of  spirits — returning  from  family  dinner  at  grand- 
ma's— Widow  Hawkins's,  you  know.  Going  ten  miles  the 
other  side  of  Xanjemoy — my  wife." 

And  with  ludicrous  attempts  at  distinct  utterance,  he 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  57 

replied  to  the  questions  of  the  guard,  according  to  tlie 
synopsis  contained  in  his  aside,  adding : 

"  Yes,  Grandma  Hawkins's  is  the  best  cider  in  the 
Union — and  maybe  I've  a  leetle,  just  a  leetle  drop  too 
much  aboard" — sinking  his  voice  and  flourishing  the  whip 
about  his  head.  "  But  I  tell  you  what  it  is — I'm  going  to 
get  on  a  big  drunk  to-morrow.  Bully  whiskey  at  Nanje- 
moy,  boys — treat  all  round — take  oath,  hey? — Union  for- 
ever !  '  Hang  Johnny  Reb  on  a  sour  apple-tree' — Hooray  ! 
Only" — and  he  caught  the  corporal  by  the  confidential 
button — "  only  don't  tell  the  old  woman,  boys — don't  tell 
the  old  woman.  She's  a  stunner,  she  is,  when  a'nfortinate 
fellow's  shot  in  the  neck."  And  he  indicated  the  old  woman 
by  a  gesture  of  the  thumb  over  his  shoulder. 

At  first  as  pale  as  sun-browned  tints  of  complexion  would 
13ermit,  she  now  scrutinized,  though  with  apparent  careless- 
ness, the  countenances  of  these  blockaders  on  the  "  Under- 
ground" passage,  who  had  gathered  round  the  wagon. 
There  was  assuredly  no  great  cause  for  alarm  in  their  idle 
curiosity  breaking  the  tedium  of  a  long  October  afternoon. 
Such  an  interruption,  demanding  just  so  much  exertion  as 
the  stretching  of  lazy  limbs,  was  provocative  rather  of  good- 
humor.  So  she  composedly  smoothed  down  her  white 
^pron  over  the  shining  black  silk,  with  somewhat  of  a 
coquettish  air,  asking : 

"  May  we  go  on  now,  please  sir  ?  Me  and  Thomas  's 
been  rather  late  upon  the  start,  and  we  left  the  house  at 
home  all  alone." 

"  Sorry,  Marm,  but  you'll  hev  to  wait  till  the  oflicer  of 
the  guard  comes  round.  Them's  our  orders.  Calc'late  the 
house  wunt  git  lonesome." 

"  How  long  must  we  wait  ?"  she  inquired,  with  a  shade 
of  anxiety  in  her  tone. 


58  BAyDOLPH  HOXOR. 

"Duiino.  'Bout  long  enouoh  for  ns  to  help  you  with 
them  beautiful  peaches,  that'll  all  spile  by  keeping.  Was 
you  bringing  'em  for  us  ?  A  big  lot,  'most  as  fine  as  they 
grow  down  East.  Xigh  onto  two  months  sence  we  seen  one, 
or  any  kind  o'  garden  sass.  Here,  boys,  jest  smell  of 'em." 
And  he  distributed  the  fiiiit  with  lavish  hand  among  his 
comrades,  who  declared  themselves  nation  tii'ed  of  hard- 
tack. 

The  owners  the  while  reconciled  themselves  to  their  fate. 
The  cider  began  to  take  more  and  more  visible  effect' uj^on 
Grandma  Hawkins's  grandson,  who  waxed  garrulous  under 
its  influence.  And  disregarding  the  scornful  withdrawal 
and  the  uplifted  chin  of  his  indignant  spouse,  he  confided 
to  a  select  audience  that  the  aforesaid  interesting  old  rela- 
tive had,  besides  very  fine  cider,  not  a  little  store  of  "  tin," 
which  one  day  would  fall  to  the  share  of  his  old  woman, 
thus  quite  a  "  spec."  And  in  confidentially  low  tones, 
and  slightly  differing  terms,  he  insinuated  that  rather  the 
"  beaux  yeux  de  sq  cassette'''  than  her  own,  had  made  Bene- 
dick a  married  man.  Between  every  sentence  he  would 
fumble  in  his  pockets,  and  extracting  with  difiiculty  there- 
form  what  he  called  A,  Xo.  1,  tobacco,  sometimes  made 
pressing  offers  of  it  to  the  soldiers,  engrossed  by  the 
peaches — ^but  invariably  transferred  it  to  his  own  mouth 
without  awaiting  their  acceptance.  Though  occasionally 
the  expression  of  his  face  might  seem  to  imply  that  A,  Xo. 
1,  was  not  entirely  to  his  taste. 

Twilight  was  falling  before  the  anxiously  expected  oflicer 
made  his  appearance.  Then,  after  questioning  the  two 
staid  country-people,  examining  the  man's  pockets,  and 
finding  nothing  unusual  within,  he  decided  to  let  them  pass. 

And  now  the  moonlight,  which  had  shown  full  upon  the 
broad  river,  began  to  creep  in  uncertain  trembling  rays 
through  rustling  embrowning  autumn  foliage.     The  way- 


BANDOLPII  HONOR.  59 

fhrers  dashed  tliroiigh  the  gates  of  a  country-seat,  and  up 
the  straight  over-arched  avenue  leading  onward  to  the  por- 
tico of  a  heavy-built  square  mansion  of  age-darkened 
moss-grown  brick,  in  the  midst  of  the  dense  oak-grove. 

The  servant,  answering  a  thundering  rap  of  the  knocker, 
eyed  askance  the  man  stamping  his  heavy  boots  upon  the 
edge  of  the  "marble  steps,  and  the  siwi-bonneted  woman 
still  keeping  her  seat  in  the  wagon.  But  long-accustomed 
exercise  of  hospitality,  which  an  old  family  servant  deems 
as  much  his  own  as  his  master's,  induced  the  negro  politely 
to  invite  even  these  non-"  quality  folks"  to  enter. 

"  Have  a  care,  these  are  not  exactly  clod-hopper  man- 
ners," the  woman  whispered,  as  her  companion  returned  to 
the  wagon  and  assisted  her  therefrom.  "  No,  indeed,  I 
won't  take  your  arm ;  but  you  may  give  it  instead  to  this 
basket  of  eggs.  Mercy !  the  chickens  are  gone  !  Grandma 
Hawkins's  fattest!  Come,"  and  she  mounted  the  steps 
and  followed  the  servant  into  the  hall,  whence  he  went  to 
inform  Mrs.  Leigh  of  the  arrival. 

The  piano  suddenly  stopped  in  the  adjacent  drawing- 
room,  the  door  was  thrown  open,  and  a  young  lady  stood 
on  the  threshold.     She  advanced,  hastily,  crying : 

"  Ah,  here  you  are  at  last !     I've  been  looking — " 

There  she  stopped.  Her  eyes  became  accustomed  to  the 
glare  of  the  well-lighted  hall,  and  she  descried  a  sun-bon- 
neted, white-aproned  figure  balanced  on  the  edge  of  a 
chair,  with  a  large  basket  on  her  knee.  A  man  stood  in 
the  centre  of  the  floor,  his  hands  in  his  pockets,  ajjparently 
engrossed  in  the  examination  of  the  chandelier.  He  wheeled 
round  at  the  sound  of  a  voice,  and,  removing  his 'hat,  ex- 
plained, in  gruff  tones,  that  he  and  his  wife  there  had  been 
stopped  by  a  set  of  Yankee  pickets  on  the  way  home 
through  Nanjemoy.  They  could  not  go  back  all  the  way 
they  came,  as  a  good  piece  of  the  road  lay  through  the 


60  RANDOLPU  IIOXOR. 

woods,  and  the  moon  wa'n't  an  hour  high.     Might  they 
make  free  to  ask  lodging  here  ? 

"  Certainly,"  the  young  lady  had  replied,  when  a  second 
thought  struck  her,  and  she  added,  hesitatingly,  "  Wait, 
I'll  ask." 

The  white-aproned  figure  set  down  her  basket,  rose  with 
great  deliberation, 'and  then  making  a  sudden  dart  upon 
the  young  lady,  seized  and  kissed  her,  holding  her  in  her 
arms.  She,  too  terrified  to  find  voice  for  a  scream,  strug- 
gled violently  the  while. 

. "  Why,  Carrie,  are  you  blind,  are  you  deaf,  that  you  do 
not  know  us  ?" 

And  her  companion  advanced,  extending  his  hand,  as  he 
said: 

"  Can  Miss  Carrie  have  forgotten  her  old  friend  Lionel 
Randolph  ?  Let  me,  then,  introduce  her  most  obedient, 
Thomas  Brown  by  name." 

"  Xever,  never,"  exclaimed  the  now  laughing  Carrie, 
"  will  I  trust  my  sight  again.  I  was  on  the  eve  of  sending 
Thomas  Brown  about  his  business,  for  the  greater  security 
of  3Ir.  Lionel  Randolph.  A  sorry  welcome  would  you  two 
have  received  for  sailing  into  a  friendly  port  under  false- 
colors." 

"  But  those  false  colors  are  rendered  necessary  by  the 
presence  of  the  enemy  near  port.  We  were  in  reality 
stopped  by  a  picket.  Therefore,  if  Miss  Carrie  object  not, 
Bhe  will  entertain  this  evening  Thomas  Brown  and — " 

"  Sister.  I  decline  the  honor  of  your  hand,"  Fadette  in- 
terrupted, gayly. 

Carrie  put  up  her  eyeglass,  and  affected  to  examine  them 
critically,  walking  round  them  for  that  purpose. 

"  Quite  a  respectable-looking  couple,"  was  the  conclusion 
to  which  she  arrived.  "  I  think  yon  may  be  invited  into 
the  drawing-room,  and  allowed  to  take  tea  with  us.     Will 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  61 

you  leave  your  busket  there,  Miss  Brown  ?  The  servant 
shall  put  it  safely  away  for  you.  Just  lay  your  bonnet 
and  shawl  upon  the  tablej  if  you  please." 

"Ah,  this  is  really  charming,"  cried  Carrie,  as  after  tea 
a  cheerful  quartette  readjourned  to  the  drawing-room, 
secure  from  all  intrusion,  even  of  faithful,  but,  perhaps, 
indiscreet  servants,  who  had  betaken  themselves  to  their 
several  cabins.  "  Is  it  not  like  a  reunion  in  the  good  old 
times,  mamma  ?" 

"  Save  two  absent  ones,  my  child,"  replied  the  placid 
old  lady  from  her  armchair,  wheeled  close  before  the 
hearth,  where  a  wood-fire  blazed  cheerily  away. 

Lionel  Randolph's  bright  brown  eyes  clouded,  and  for  a 
moment  he  lost  the  pleasing  consciousness  of  that  heavy, 
suddenly-acquired  black  moustache,  which  covered  his  own 
faint  suggestion  of  the  same. 

"  No  reunion  of  the  good  old  times.  Miss  Carrie,"  he  re- 
sponded sadly,  "  while  your  brother  and  mine  are  missing — 
one  in  a  Northern  dungeon,  one  in  a  distant  camp.  But 
we  will  not  compare  with  the  past.  Have  you  no  curiosity 
with  regard  to  Thomas  Brown's  adventures?"  he  asked, 
with  wonted  gayety. 

"  Au  contraire,  I  am  dying  to  hear  them.  From  Alpha 
to  Omega,  please." 

He  did  not  please,  however,  it  appeared,  but  inquired, 
instead: 

"  Did  you  ever  eat  your  own  words.  Mademoiselle  ?" 

"  Never,  Monsieur ;  but  could  not  have  the  slightest 
objection — always  make  them  palatable  and  sweet — like 
these,  for  instance."  And  lifting  a,  box  of  bonbons  from 
the  centre-table,  at  which  she  sat  with  her  embroidery, 
industriously  idling,  she  offered  them  with  a  profound 
obeisance. 


62  UAXDOLPn  noxoR. 

"  Can  you  recommend  them  as  an  antidote  to  very 
naughty  words  ?  I  observe  you  are  always  supplied.  I 
ask  in  all  seriousness,  because  I  this  evening  swallowed  a 
quire  of  just  such  words.  If  'rebellion'  be  sin,  then  is  it 
well  no  man  is  judged  by  that  which  entereth  into  him." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  the  mystified  Carrie. 

Fadette  stared,  but  in  a  moment  laughed  merrily. 

"  That  explains,"  she  cried,  "  why  you  began  chewing 
tobacco  so  indefatigably,  while  the  picket  detained  us  the 
other  side  of  Xanjemoy.  I  supposed  it  en  rlgle  for  Thomas 
Brown,  and  was  revolving  in  my  own  mind  whether  Mis- 
tress  Brown  was  leaving  any  similar  duty  unperformed." 

"  Alas,  no !  All  the  fortifications  around  Washington 
are  eaten — nothing  left  for  '  the  cankered  tooth  of  Time' — 
and  their  garrisons  perished  in  the  debris.  I  can  now 
imagine  how  Mother  Earth  feels  after  the  repast  conse- 
quent upon  a  battle." 

"  But  you  surely  have  not  lost  the  results  of  your  fort- 
night's dangerous  sojourn  in  Washington  ?"  inquired  Mrs. 
Leigh,  grave  and  anxious  amid  the  laughter  and  the  rail- 
lery which  followed. 

"  Xo,  madam  ;  only  rough  notes  I  was  so  careless  as  to 
leave  in  my  pockets,  dreaming  not  of  foes  about  peaceful 
old  Xanjemoy.  The  papers  of  importance  could  not  read- 
ily be  found." 

Through  all  the  merry  conversation  of  that  evening,  two 
voices  had  been  rinsrinor  ceaseless  chancres  in  Fadette's 
ears,  and  she  now  stole  apart,  throwing  open  the  window 
and  passing  out  upon  the  portico,  to  listen  to  and  to  decide 
between  them.  She  stood  there  against  the  balustrade, 
looking  upward  through  brown  clashing  boughs  to  the 
starlit  skies.  The  ripple  of  the  mighty  river,  glancing 
and  darkling  through  vistas  in  the  grove,  and  distant  only 
by  that  grove,  and  the  white  winding  road,  seen  at  inter- 


RANDOLPH  nONOR  03 

vals  beyond,  flowed  in,  sootliinoly^  witli  the  cuiTent  of  lier 
thouglits,  until  tumultuous  Avilfulness  died  away  in  the 
tranquillit}'',  and  left  her  free  to  hear  the  whisper  of  con- 
science, reminding  that  her  guardian  had  bade  her  home  to 
Randoljjh  Honor,  not  on  this  hare-brained  expedition  with 
young  Lionel. 

"  The  moon  is  down,"  she  called,  rousing  herself.  "  Lio- 
nel, ought-  you  to  delay  ?" 

He  went  out  to  her. 

*'  Are  you  ready,  dearest,  and  not  afraid  ?" 

"  Not  afraid;  but — I  am  not  going." 

She  spoke  with  quiet  determination,  although  tears 
glistened  on  the  lifted  lashes.  He  looked  long  into  her 
fiice,  w^hich  met  that  look  steadfastly,  though  sorrowfully. 
And  then  he  turned  sharply  from  her,  and  began  striding 
up  and  dowm  the  portico  in  silence. 

She  kept  her  place,  humming  in  careless  fashion  a  lively 
air,  and  tapping  the  time  w^ith  her  fingers  upon  the  balus- 
trade, while  in  the  eftbrt  to  keep  back  fast-welling  drops, 
her  eyes  fixed  themselves,  strainingly,  on  one  small  star 
aloft,  across  which  that  high  bough  sw^ept  with  tedious 
regularity.  Yet  the  notes  quavered  when  he  again  passed 
her  by  abruptly ;  and  presently  she  follow^ed,  and  touched 
his  arm. 

"  Don't  be  angry  with  me,"  she  pleaded.  "  It  is  because 
I  feel  I  ought  not.  You  cannot  tell  how  it  grieves  me  to 
give  it  up.  I  have  been  thinking  and  thinking  ever  since 
I  first  spoke  of  it  this  evening,  though  I  w^ould  not  let  you 
say  another  word.  And  now  I  know  Mr.  Randolph  W' ould 
never  consent  to  this." 

"  Is  '  Mr.  Randolph'  always  to  be  first  ?"  he  demanded, 
sullenly,  shaking  off  her  light  clasp. 

"  There,  now,  you  are  behaving  like  a  siily  boy,  and  an 
unjust  one.     I  put  myself  under  the  care  of  no  such  mad- 


64  RAXBOLPU  EOXOB. 

cap  Hotspur.  Of  course  Mr.  Ranclolph  is  to  be  first  in  all 
matters  of  right  and  wrong.     As  to  affection — " 

She  walked  away  from  him  quite  to  the  further  end  of 
the  piazza.  The  trees  gloomed  densely  there,  so  that  he 
could  not  see  her  face  when  he  had  followed.  But  he 
heard  something  very  like  a  stifled  sob. 

It  did  not  soften  him.  It  gave  him  the  sense  of  power-  - 
a  new  sense,  where  she  was  concerned.  And  the  touch  he 
laid  upon  her  shoulder  was  of  command,  rather  than  en- 
treaty. 

"  Unsay  your  words,  Fadette,  or  say  them  again  with  a 
deeper  meaning.  Do  you  scorn  me  ?  do  you  rebuff  me  ? 
Will  you  never  put  yourself  under  my  care.  Hotspur  though 
I  be?  Fadette,  this  broth er-and-sister  farce  must  end. 
You  are  no  sister  of  mine.  I  love  you  as  a  man  should 
love  his  bride,  and  I  want  a  bride's  answer.     Speak  I" 

She  moved  so  that  the  light  which  glinted  through  the 
curtains  from  the  oj^en  window  fell  full  upon  her  face. 
Through  her  April  tears  broke  sun-bright  flashing  smiles, 
and  she  raised  her  finger  chidingly. 

"  Stay,  you  are  not  commanding  your  company,  that  you 
should  issue  orders  in  that  style.  I  shall  not  answer  one 
question  you  have  put.  But  you  may  say — '  Fadette,  I — 
care .  for  you — something  more  than  a  brother — will  you 
like  me  just  a  very  little  ?'  " 

Downcast  and  embarrassed,  he  stood  before  her.  He  felt 
himself  utterly  powerless  beneath  those  bright  eyes.  The 
fairy-queen  tyranny  which  had  bent  him  from  boyhood  to 
its  sway,  was  not  all  melted  away  in  those  tear-drops. 

His  gaze  was  lowered,  as  he  said : 

"  Long  and  truly  have  I  loved  you — you,  and  none  other. 
Is  all  in  vain  ?" 

She  laid  her  hand  in  his,  extended  towards  her. 

"I — I  think — I  am  sure,''  she  said  softly,  "that  I  love 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  G5 

you  better  than  any  one  in  the  world — yes,  even  than  Mr. 
Randolph,"  she  added,  as  if  in  answer  to  some  question- 
ing thought.  "And — don't  you  know  I  used  to  be  your 
little  wife,  dear  Lionel  ?" 

At  that  instant  the  curtains  were  drawn  baqk,  and  Car- 
rie's gay  voice  cried — 

"  Oyez,  oyez !  Mr.  Thomas  Brown  please  come  forward 
with  his  wife  !  Mamma  says  you  positively  must  go.  Is 
she  not  hospitable !" 

Fadette  had  disengaged  herself  from  her  lover's  arm  at 
the  first  word,  and  hurriedly  obeyed  the  summons. 

"You  will  surely  go  now?  You  cannot  part  my  Fa- 
dette— my  own  Fadette — from  me  so  soon  ?"  Lionel  whis- 
.  pered  imploringly. 

She  made  no  answer. 

"  I  have  decided  not  to  ofo,"  she  said  on  re-entering:  the 
drawing-room.     "  Am  I  not  right,  Mrs.  Leigh  ?" 

"  What !"  exclaimed  Carrie,  after  a  long,  wondering 
stare — "  You  give  up  \  Terra  firma  is  no  more  !  But  I 
perceive  mamma  is  going  to  side  with  you.  And,  indeed, 
Mr.  Randolph  himself  looks  well  satisfied !  Are  you  quite 
sure  you  did  not  consider  her  rather  a  bore  ?"  she  asked  of 
him  in  a  playfully  confidential  tone. 

"She  has  satisfied  me,"  he  replied,  glancing  slightly 
toward  Fadette,  whose  color  rose. 

He  was  leaning  against  the  mantel,  before  the  sofa,  where 
Fadette  and  Carrie  had  sunk  down  side  by  side.  He  was 
twirling  his  coarse  country  straw-hat  slowly  and  lingeringly 
in  his  hands.     At  length  he  .broke  the  silence : 

"  Young  ladies,  are  you  occupying  these  last  moments  in 
reflection  upon  what  a  hazardous  journey  is  mine?  Do 
you  realize  that  amidst  those  imminent  perils  by  flood, 
highway,  by-way,  and  field,  there  is  the  dread  possibility, 
not  to  say  probability,  that  I  may  lose — " 


G6  RAXDOLPH  UOXOR 

He  paused.  Fadette's  color  fled,  and  her  lips  parted 
almost  with  a  gasp.  Mrs.  Leigh,  from  her  armchair,  shook 
her  head  with  unconscious  foreboding. 

Carrie  drew  down  the  corners  of  her  mouth,  in  a  vain 
endeavor  to  hide  a  lurking  smile. 

"  The  dread  possibility,"  he  reiterated  solemnly,  "  that  I 
may  lose — two  small  valuables  I  would  not  willingly  dedi- 
cate to  the  adorning  of  some  future  victorious  enemy.  How 
shall  I  therefore  rescue  them?" 

While  he  was  speaking,  he  had  brought  forth  his  watch, 
and  detached  from  the  chain  its  one  charm,  an  exquisitely 
enamelled  acorn.  Springing  open,  it  disclosed  a  tiny  golden- 
.winged  imprisoned  dryad,  balancing  herself  on  one  foot 
upon  a  large  diamond  embedded  there.  And  drawing  off 
a  seal-ring  which  Tom  Brown's  rough  worsted  gloves  had 
concealed  from  view  of  the  picket-guard,  he  held  both  in 
his  outstretched  palm. 

"  Will  not  each  of  you,  young  ladies,  save  one  of  these 
from  its  impending  fate,  by  taking  care  of  it  until  I 
come  again,  to  redeem  it  with  the  sjDoils  of'  the  Egyp- 
tians ?" 

He  watched  Fadette  uneasily,  as  Carrie's  eyes  fixed  ad- 
miringly upon  the  priceless  bauble. 

"  I  "u-ill  wear  your  ugly  ring,"  Fadette  said,  with  well- 
assumed  carelessness.  But  her  glance  fell  before  his  of 
ardent  gratitude,  and  lifted  itself  no  more,  while  blushing 
deeply  she  slipped  on  the  ring,  guarding  it  with  her  dia- 
mond cluster.     Mrs.  Leigh  now  spoke,  earnestly : 

"Lideed,  Lionel,  you  should  not  delay.  The  servants 
are  already  at  the  boat — John  and  Madison,  perfectly  trust- 
worthy, you  know.     3Iy  dear  boy,  it  is  not  safe  to  linger." 

He  shook  hands  cordially  with  her  and  with  her  pretty 
daughter,  who  partially  succeeded  in  an  attempt  to  look 
lachrymose,  and  then  he  turned  to  Fadette. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR. 


67 


"  As  my  little  sister,  and  as  Tom  Brown's  wife,  I  claim 
no  more  than  my  dues,"  he  said,  and  he  bent  down  and 
kissed  her  suddenly. 

He  paused  on  the  threshold,  waved  his  hat,  and  was 
gone. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

BY    FLAG     OF    .TRUCE. 

"  To  us,  us  also,  open  straight; 
The  outer  air  is  chilly—" 

Mrs.  BROw>rrs-G. 


ADETTE  stands  apart  on  the  deck  of  the  Louisi- 
ana, in  the  early  Xovemher  twilight.  She  holds, 
a^lil  clasped  tightly  in  her  hand,  a  slip  of  paper,  the 
talisman  which  is  to  work  'the  great  change  in  her  life — the 
pass  by  which,  to-morrow,  she  will  enter  tlie  magic  bounds 
of  the  Confederacy. 

She  watches  the  stars  come  out  one  by  one,  like  the 
lights  in  the  fading  squares  of  Baltimore.  Those  squares 
are  clearly  defined  in  glowdng  lines  that  sweep  down  from 
the  amphitheatre  of  hills,  encircling  waters  where  red  and 
golden  rays  are  streaming  broadly  from  vessels  riding" there 
at  anchor.  For  the  first  time  a  sense  of  that  great  change 
comes  over  her  in  all  its  force,  and  she  starts  forward, 
straining  her  sight  to  gain  every  feature  of  the  fast- 
receding  landscape,  as  for  the  last  glimi^se  of  a  familiar 
countenance. 

She  forgets  the  iron  grasp  upon  "  the  seven  hills  of 
yore;"  she  sees  not  the  intrenchments  of  Federal  Hill, 
nor  the  tents  whitening  that  green  promontory  of  Fort 
McHenry,  nor  hears  those  bugles  from  the  fort  sounding 
retreat.  Tears  blind  her  watching  eyes,  and  in  her  ears 
yet  linger  parting  words  and  sighs. 

Still  before  her  seems  the  carriage  upon  yonder  distant 
wharf,  in  which  Miss  Randolph  had  sunk  back,  her  veil 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  69 

drawn  down.  From  its  window,  Carrie's  pretty  lace,  a 
very  April  day  of  smiles  and  tears,  had  thrust  itself,  A^^hile 
her  handkerchief  waved  the  last  farewell. 

But  a  Federal  officer  saunters  near,  and  thought  re- 
ceives a  new  impulse.  The  fetters  that  day  by  day  clank 
heavily  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore, — and  the  spirit  that 
will  not  yet  be  fettered,  shall  it  one  day  hug  those  chains  ? 

She  calls  to  mind  how,  that  very  evening,  driving  down 
Charles-street  in  the  wake  of  a  military  procession,  she  had 
caught  through  assembled  crowds  cheers,  "  not  loud,  but 
deep,"  for  Davis,  for  Beauregard,  for  Dixie.  Even  the 
slave  was  carried  away  in  the  popular  current ;  for,  as  a 
drunken  Zouave  staggered  past  the  carriage  stopped  in 
the  press,  and  in  maudlin  tones  declared  he  had  lost  him- 
self, Fadette  heard  a  spruce  young  negro  mockingly  ad- 
vise him  to  "find  himself  pretty  quick,  or  the  secesh 
would." 

Up  the  street  she  glances  with  memory's  eye  at  the  shop- 
windows,  which,  despite  Dix's  prohibition  of  the  rebel- 
lious colors  red,  white,  and  red,  yet  venture  to  insinuate 
their  proclivities  in  the  arrangement  of  candies,  ribbons, 
etc.  And  further  on,  where  alley-gates  appear  in  dingier 
localities,  "  Fort  Lafayette,"  inscribed  in  huge  black  letters 
upon  the  darkest  and  the  dingiest  walls,  proclaims  "  rebel- 
lion" rampant  even  here. 

She  thinks  of  one  true  heart  far  away  in  the  real  and 
drearier  Lafayette — of  the  unwearied  fingers  working,  of 
the  unwearied  souls  praying,  for  the  Southern  soldier,  for 
the  Southern  cause.  And  she  dreams — is  it  a  dream  some 
coming  dawn  will  verify? — these  may  not  have  sufiered, 
wrought,  and  prayed  in  vain. 

In  the  early  dawn  she  is  again  there.  Randolph  Honor 
has  been  watched  for,  and  passed  in  the  night ;  and  the 
darkened,   lonely  mansion    on    the   wooded    promontory 


70  BASDOLPH  IIOXOR. 

loomed  so  desolate  in  the  pale  light  of  the  moon,  that  truly 
it  seemed  "  Randolph  Honor  no  longer."  Xow,  stars  are 
paling  above,  and  beneath,  low  clouds  merge  into  the  faint 
blue  shores.  The  gray,  white-crested  bay — the  gray,  white- 
crested  sky — alike  are  flushing  and  glowing  moment  by 
moment  in  the  rays  of  the  half-revealed  sun,  that  seems 
another  moon  rising  in  crimson  pomp  to  the  throne  y.onder 
pale  orb  abandons. 

The  freshening  breeze  blows  chill  from  the  ocean.  But 
Fadette  heeds  not  the  frosty  air.  Her  heart  is  beating 
warm  with  hope.     To-day  in  the  land  of  promise  ! 

Five  o'clock  and  breakfast.  She  thinks,  as  she  escapes 
from  the  heated  saloon,  and  welcomes  the  refreshing  wind, 
that  nature,  in  the  shape  of  the  adverse  currents  and  chop- 
ping waves  of  the  horse-shoe,  and  art,  in  the  person  or  per- 
sons who  ordain  breakfast  a  fixed  fact  at  that  particular 
hour,  are  deliberate  economists  at  the  expense  of  travellers' 
appetites. 

She  stands  upon  deck,  watching  for  every  well-known 
phase  of  the  changmg  scene,  as  Old  Point  Comfort  stretches 
sandily  before  her.  There  are  the  woodlands  whence  the 
Point  narrows  whitely  southward,  with  blue  waters  upon 
either  hand.  Aye,  those  sand-hills  stretching  forth  in 
peaks  and  ridges  from  the  woods  above  the  Point,  wear 
the  old  familiar  aspect.  Only,  surely  they  must  have 
dwindled  in  height  and  breadth  since  those  last  childish 
holidays  which  sped  so  rapidly  among  them !  She  knows 
where  the  persimmons  hide  behind  the  cedars  at  the  foot 
of  that  great  one,  and  on  which  sunny  slope  the  fox-grapes 
ripen  best.  Yonder  in  their  midst,  shielded  by  that  tan- 
gled copse,  lies  the  soldiers'  graveyard,  by  which  she  has 
scamj^ered  tremblingly  at  sunset,  dared  by  her  playmates. 
Beyond  is  "  the  dreadful  hollow  behind  the  little  wood," 
the  barren  desolation  of  which  her  childish   imasrination 


RAXDOLPII  IIOJSORr  71 

had  invested  with  a  tragic  weird  of  its  own.  Toward  it 
she  bends  eageHy,  wIk'ii  the  steamer  passes  on,  as  though 
she  miglit  tlius  catch  a  glimpse  of  waA'ed  sands  and  wave- 
rounded  stones  and  shells  scattered  there,  the  dingier 
shades  of  which  she  had  been  fain,  awestruck,  to  believe 
gory  stains.  She  stretches  her  hands  lovingly  toward  tlie 
beach,  for  she  knows  what  wealth  of  gold  and  silver  and 
rainbow-hued  shells  lie  there,  the  treasure-trove  of  summer 
days  long  past.  That  black-ringed  target  is  the  same,  or 
like  the  same,  at  which  she  has  so  often  watched  the  firing 
from  the  water-battery.  And  here  is  the  red  water-battery 
itself,  guarding  the  northeast  of  the  fort,  facing  one  side  of 
the  broad  moat — in  familiar  parlance,  ditch — suiTounding 
in  its  sweep  of  a  mile  the  massive  octagonal  granite  walls 
and  grassy  parapets  of  Fortress  Monroe,  whose  casemate 
embrasures  overlook  its  waters.  Dark-slated  roofs  of  build- 
ings within  the  ramparts  make  themselves  manifest  above, 
and  over  the  beach  the  lantern  of  the  w^hite  lighthouse 
blazes  in  the  sunlight.  Opposite,  the  Rip-Raps ,  rises  in 
mid-sea,  a  tottering  fortress  on  an  unseen  pile  of  rocks, 
through  which  waves  plash  and  gurgle  wdth  the  peculiar 
ripple  of  its  name.  Workmen  are  even  at  this  early  hour 
gathered  on  the  unfinished  ramparts  of  this  capture  from 
the  sea,  and  the  clashing  of  their  peaceful  weapons  is  echoed 
clearly  here,  where  the  steamer  rests  now  at  the  wharf  at 
Old  Point.      . 

No  one  is  permitted  to  land.  The  thirty  women,  half . 
as  many  children,  and  a  solitary  man  bound  for  Dixie, 
strive  to  while  away  the  time,  to  sleep,  to  read,  to  walk,  to 
talk  aw\ay  anxiety,  as  the  weary  hours  lag  until  the  general 
commanding  shall  open  his  eyes  and  his  mouth,  and  per- 
haps accord  j^ermission  to  be  gone. 

Fadette  soon  wearied  of  watching  those  ragged  "  intel- 
ligent  contraband's"   transformed   into   beasts  of  burden, 


72  *  RANDOLPH  EOS  OR. 

chained  to  lieavily-laden  sleds  upon  the  wharf.  She  was 
saddened  by  the  Avar-change  here  apj^arent  in  bustle,  throng- 
ing blue-coats,  and  din  of  workmen.  Xewly-erected  build- 
insrs  crowded  into  insio-nificance  the  few  which  in  the  olden 
time  had  sufficed  for  ordnance-stores,  upon  the  gentle 
slopes  stretching  away  from  this  beachy  southward  point 
to  the  green  bank  of  the  moat.  It  was  yet  more  sorrowful 
to  linger  about  that  cottage  hard  by  the  moat.  There  the 
multiflora  trailed  neglected,  and  Anthered  from  the  porch 
it  once  had  veiled,  even  to  the  sloping  roof,  with  mists  of 
pink  and  white.  And  its  embowered  garden,  wont  to 
crown  in  childhood's  days  the  May  Queen,  now  lay  strag- 
gling, brown,  and  overgrown  with  weeds.  It  was,  there- 
fore, rather  a  relief  when  the  order  came  to  search  the  lug- 
gage, and  the  manner  of  execution  gave  emj^loyment  in 
repacking. 

That  over,  she  returned  to  the  saloon,  for  the  wind  had 
changed,  and  the  rainy  fog  it  brought  rendered  the  deck 
no  longer  a  pleasant  retreat.  She  skimmed  listlessly  over 
the  pages  of  a  novel,  but  it  or  she  was  unpardonably  stupid. 
She  tried  to  talk,  but  conversation  flagged  into  speculations 
upon  the  general's  probable  decision.  She  tried  to  sleep, 
but  those  same  speculations  argued  still  between  dreams 
and  waking  thoughts.  She  longed  to  silence  that  whining 
child;  and,  finally,  to  put  an  end  to  that  odious  little 
whitey-brown  deputy  provost  (she  believed  he  was)  loung- 
ing against  the  window  opposite,  and  talking  to  good- 
natured,  silly  Mrs.  Lennox,  Fadette's  chaperon,  with  so 
excessively  impertinent  an  air. 

Presently  that  lady  crossed  to  Fadette,  and  proffered  a 
request  in  an  undertone.  Fadette  looked  rather  annoyed, 
but  took  out  her  porte-monnaie  and  di'ew  from  it  a  slip  of 
paper. 

"  There  it  is,  Mrs.  Lennox,"  she  said,  "  but  I  would  not, 


RANDOLPH  HONOB.  73 

if  I  were  you,  show  it  to  that  man.  He  may  be  a  spy  for 
auglit  we  know,  and  at  all  events  is  very  presuming." 

"  Oh,  my  dear,  that  is  his  ignorance.  I  only  wish  to 
prove  to  him  that  Baltimore  is  not  Union,  as  he  says  Gen- 
eral Dix's  policy  has  made  it.     Many  thanks." 

And  Mrs.  Lennox  resumed  her  sofa,  giving  the  paper 
into  the  possession  of  her  controversialist. 

As  he  unfolded  it,  and  read  on,  a  heavy  frown  settled  on 
his  face.  For  it  was  a  burlesque,  printed  in  red  and  blue 
letters,  of  General  Dix's  proclamation  against  the  red, 
white,  and  red — threatenings  of  war  to  the  knife  on  all  rose- 
bushes, unless  the  wind  blew  them — Avarnings  that  those 
Baltimoreans  must  die  whose  hair  is  red,  and  whose  eyes 
not  azure— and  other  rhymed  witticisms,  very  insignificant 
in  themselves,  but  so  running  in  with  the  tide  of  popular 
feeling,  that  these  secretly  printed  etfusions  were  eagerly 
sought  after. 

He  finished  the  perusal  of  the  last  line;  and  then  he 
refolded  the  sheet,  and  deliberately  tore  it  into  fragments, 
disregarding  Mrs.  Lennox's  exclamation  of  shocked  sur- 
prise. 

Fadette's  eyes  flashed,  and  she  lost  sight  of  all  pruden- 
tial considerations.  She  surveyed  the  man  steadily  from 
head  to  foot,  remarking  in  a  distinct  tone,  while  he  rather 
shrunk  than  walked  away  from  the  many  scornful  glances 
levelled  on  him — 

"  This  is  the  first  time  my  attention  has  been  especially 
drawn  to  that  prominent  deputy-provost  characteristic — 
petty  meanness.     I  shall  know  the  genus  again." 

An  hour  after,  a  rumor  filled  the  saloon  that  two  among 
Its  inmates  were  to  have  their  persons  searched. 

Fadette  withdrew  from  the  excited  groups  which  con- 
gregated here  and  there,  all  talking  at  once  in  awestruck 
whispers — every  one  emphatic  in  declaring  the  order  could 

4 


U  RAyDOLPH  HOyOR 

not  concern  herself,  yet  feeling  meantime  a  secret  inquie- 
tude. 

Though  she  paced  up  and  down  the  long  apartment  so 
tranquilly,  Fadette  was  by  no  means  calm.  She  clenched 
her  fingers  together  in  striving  to  maintain  some  degree 
of  composure,  forcing  herself  to  lace  what  was  before  her. 
For  if  Mrs.  Lennox's  folly  and  her  own  impnidence  had 
pointed  suspicion  to  her,  how  was  she  to  escape  ?  Refuse 
examination,  and  thus  be  reftised  her  passport,  she  could 
not,  since  Randolj^h  Honor  was  now  closed,  and  Miss  Ran- 
dolph absent.  And  yet,  although  she  had  been  wary,  a 
rigid  examination  might  develop  certain  secrets  which, 
beyond  a  doubt,  would  winter  her  with  some  rebel  sister- 
hood in  prison. 

After  a  time  she  came  to  a  resolution.  And  now  com- 
posed, though  the  flush  of  excitement  burned  on  her  cheek, 
she  paused  in  her  walk  at  a  window.  Here,  all  this  while, 
a  lady  with  whom  Fadette  had  formed  quite  a  friendship 
during  the  journey  had  stood  apart,  pale  as  death,  with 
gaze  fixed  "sacantly  on  the  dismal  expanse  of  leaden  skies 
and  waves. 

"  I  believe,"  said  Fadette,  "  that  I  am  one  of  the  sus- 
pected.    That  paper  of  mine — what  do  you  think '?" 

"I  fear,"  she  said,  with  quivering  breath,  "they  may 
have  discovered  I  was  lately  sent  back  from  Harper's  Fer- 
ry, for  attempting  to  smuggle  through  a  small  quantity  of 
medicine — I  do  assure  you,  only  for  my  family.  I  will  not 
be  searched  again — they  were  no  women  there  that  did  it — 
they  will  have  to  drag  me  from  here.  I  have  nothings 
nothing  concealed,  but  I  cannot  go  throngh  another  such 
scene." 

"  As  for  me,"  replied  Fadette,  nodding  significantly,  "  I 
shall  go,  but  I  shall  know  how  to  protect  myself  There 
are  women  here,  but  neither  woman  nor  man  shall  search 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  75 

me.  However,  I  shall  go  with  them,  and  give  you  the 
benefit  of  my  experienee.  Don't  look  so  terrified.  I  think 
that  is  tlie  summons  now." 

It  was,  and  as  Fadette  expected.  Mrs.  Lennox,  on  hear- 
ing Fadette's  name  called,  was  distressed  and  alarmed  be- 
yond measure,  and  would  have  gone  below  with  her,  but 
Fadette  declined,  though  very  kindly,  saying  that  she  was 
not  in  the  least  afraid.  Indeed,  save  that  her  voice  rang 
quicker  and  more  decided,  and  her  color  heightened,  she 
Avas  the  Fadette  of  an  hour  ago. 

She  followed  a  soldier  down  stairs  to  the  cabin  door, 
which  he  opened  and  closed  again,  shutting  her  in.  She 
leisurely  began  to  unbuckle  her  belt,  while  listening  to  his 
reascending  step  and  examining  her  examiner, — a  good- 
humored  looking  importation,  coarse  and  rough  indeed, 
but,  as  Fadette  judged,  rather  manageable.  So,  delaying 
until  a  heavy  tread  overhead  informed  her  that  the  soldier 
was  quite  out  of  the  way,  she  addressed  herself  to  the 
woman,  who  attempted  to  assist  in  the  intricate  question 
of  hooks  and  eyes. 

"  That  is  great  waste  of  time,"  she  said,  lightly.  "  You 
wdll  be  obliged  to  help  me  to  dress  again.  Whereas,  if 
you'll  only  let  me  alone,  and  say  you  found  nothing,  I'll 
find  twenty  dollars  in  my  purse  for  j^ou." 

But  she  soon  saw  that  bribery  was  ineifectual  here.  Na- 
tive honesty,  or  fear  of  detection,  prevailed  over  the  offered 
reward.     One  way  remained. 

She  slipped  her  hand  in  her  pocket,  and  click!  went 
something  there.  A  quick  grasp  upon  the  w^oman's  shoul- 
der, a  pistol  suddenly  lifted  to  her  head,  brought  her  down, 
powerless  and  speechless  with  terror,  upon  her  knees. 

"Don't  dare  to  open  your  lips,"  commanded  Fadette, 
resolutely  drawing  up  her  slight  figure,  and  trying  to  look 
as  if  she  thought  herself  very  formidable — "  Don't  attempt 


76  BAyDOLPII  BOX  OR. 

to  scream,  or  you  arc  a  dead  woman.  "See,  your  life  is  at 
the  mercy  of  one  moyement  of  this  finger.  What,  you  will 
promise  any  thing  now  ?"  She  had  much  ado  to  "preserves 
that  fitting  fierce  sternness  of  demeanor,  in  yiew  of  the 
trembling  creature  who  shrank  and  cowered  at  her  feet, 
yet  who  could  haye  crushed  her  almost  at  a  grasp,  were  it 
not  for  natiye  cowardice  and  wholesome  awe  of  that  small 
silyer-mounted  weapon,  which  indeed  gaye  the  odds  into 
Fadette's  firm  hand. 

"  Xow  remember,  if  you  inform  on  me,  I'll  follow  you  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth — night  and  day  you  are  not  safe — 
you  shall  neyer  escape  me.  There,  get  uj) — some  one  \s> 
coming.  If  it  is  the  guard,  you  are  to  say  you  found  noth- 
ing. And  be  sure  you  are  polite  to  the  next  lady  who 
comes.  Here,  don't  stand  there  in  the  light.  You  are  as 
white  as  if  the  pistol  had  indeed  gone  ofi",  and  you  were 
your  own  ghost.  This  way,"  and  she  drew  her,  perfectly 
passiye  with  fear,  aside  where  the  red  curtains  reflected 
some  color  on  her  ashen  cheek.  Then  pressing  the  prom- 
ised gold  in  her  hand,  she  withdrew  slightly,  and  was  en- 
gaged with  the  fiistening  of  her  buckle,  when  the  door 
opened,  and  the  soldier  thrust  in  his  head. 

"  Got  through  ?     Found  any  thing  ?"  he  asked. 

Fadette  significantly  put  her  hand  in  her  pocket,  with  a 
turn  of  the  head  toward  the  woman,  who  hastened  to  reply 
in  the  negatiye,  in  a  pretty  steady  tone.  The  hand  emerged 
with  a  kerchief,  the  soft  folds  of  which  were  in  requisition 
to  conceal  a  smile. 

As  Fadette  passed  her  friend  in  the  saloon  aboye,  she 
whispered,  nodding  triumphantly — 

"Go  down,  you  won't  haye  the  least  trouble.  I  wish 
you -could  haye  seen  my  farce  below-stairs.  Indeed,  I  en- 
acted the  heroine  to  perfection." 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  77 

Three  o'clock  came  before  the  Dixie-bound  were  trans- 
ferred from  the  Xouisiana  to  a  rickety  old  white-flagged 
ferry-boat,  at  last  under  way  for  Norfolk,  or  as  near  Nor- 
folk as  Confederate  regulations  i^ermitted  a  Federal  vessel 
to  approach. 

Most  joyfully  the  travellers  bestowed  themselves  on 
boxes  and  logs  in  the  ancient  craft.  To  the  overlooking 
of  the  several  Federal  officers  who  accompany  the  Flag  of 
Truce,  all  are  eagerly  watching  for  the  first  glimpse  of  the 
loved  stars  and  bars.  This  was  at  Sewall's  Point.  But 
alas,  and  alas !  distance  distinguished  them  wofully  little 
from  the  stars  and  stripes. 

On,  while  level-wooded  shores  draw  nearer,  and  the  boat 
is  fairly  in  James  River — on,  until  a  heavy  gun  booms 
from  a  battery  on  shore,  the  signal  for  the  boat  to  stop. 
Crany  Island  with  its  fort  lies  round  that  bend.  Thence 
shortly  skims  over  the  waters  a  barge,  and  all  start  forward 
for  their  first  view  of  a  Confederate  soldier.  Ah,  these  are 
not  ragged,  not  barefooted.  And  many  a  heart  beats  gladly 
at  sight  of  that  ununiformed  but  stoutly-clad  crew. 

And  oh  the  cordial  greetings  to  the  strangers,  who,  be- 
cause they  are  "our  soldiers,"  are  old  friends  already — the 
joyous  smiles  and  merry  laughter,  and  assurances  that  the 
fast-pouring  "  Dixie  rain  will  do  us  no  harm  !"  For,  ladies 
not  being  expected,  this  is  the  only  available  boat,  the 
steamers  being  at  Norfolk,  and  the  fog  too  dense  for  sig- 
nals. The  soldiers  endeavor,  with  overcoats  and  shawls,  to 
form  a  shelter  for  ladies  and  children,  and  a  happier  cargo 
could  never  be  found. 

With  light  hearts,  and  appetites  to  create  a  famine  in 
the  camp,  were  all  tales  true  of  rebeldom  starvation.  They 
arrive  at  Crany  Island,  and  soon  forget  hunger,  wet,  and 
weariness  in  the  kind  hospitality  of  General  Smith's  head- 
quarters. 


78  RANDOLPH  HOXOE. 

Fadette  has  quite  a  budget  of  closely-writtQji  papers  to 
deliver  into  the  general's  hands.  Then,"  after  a  hurried 
tour  around  the  new  fort,  she  once  more  crosses  the  fami- 
liar gangway  of  the  Selden,  and  takes  with  her,  on  her  way 
to  Norfolk,  grateful  remembrances  of  her  first  experience 
of  "the  Chivalry"  under  arms. 

When  that  night  she  stands  at  a  window  of  the  Atlantic 
Hotel,  before  she  draws  her  curtains,  that  murky  sky  is  the 
brightest  she  has  seen  for  months.  And  she  wonders,  with 
a  half-smile  and  a  bhish,  whether  somebody  in  Dixie  may 
not  be  looking  up  at  the  heavens  from  his  camp,  and  think- 
ing now  of  her. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


IN    CIIARLKSTOX. 

"Hear  what  Highland  Nora  said : 
The  Earlie's  son  I  would  not  wed. 
Should  all  th(;  race  of  nature  die. 
And  none  be  left  but  he  and  1— 
For  all  the  gold,  for  all  the  gear. 
For  all  the  lauds  both  far  and  near. 
That  ever  valor  lost  or  won, 
I  would  not  wed  the  Earlie's  son." 

Scott. 

ilTARLIGHT  and  lamplight  were  glimmering  along 
the  streets  of  Charleston,  when  a  carriage  from  the 

Railway  Depot  drove  through  them  until  it  passed 

the  battery,  and  drew  up  before  a  massive  iron  gateway. 

Fadette  leaned  eagerly  forward,  as  the  drowsy  old  gen- 
tleman, her  travelling  companion,  bestirred  himself,  ener- 
getically fumbling  about  the  fastening  of  tlie  door,  whik^ 
tiie  driver  dismounted,  and  rang  the  gate-bell  with  a  pull 
which  brought  the  old  negro  porter,  bowing,  to  the  presence. 
Yes,  this  was  Mr.  Rutledge's.  And  Fadette,  accepting 
her  friend's  arm,  followed  the  servant  through  a  broad 
courtyard  or  rather  garden,  where  roses  clambering  up 
tall  trees  gave  summer  odors  to  the  November  air. 

Her  escort  took  his  leave  at  the  white-columned  gallery 
of  the  house,  the  gable  end  of  which  was  on  the  street. 

She  was  met  in  the  hall  by  an  elderly  negro  woman, 
seemingly  the  factotum  of  the  establishment,  judging  by 
her  consequential  though  respectful  demeanor,  and  quick 


80        -  RANDOLPH  EOXOR. 

orders  with  regard  to  Fadette's  trunks,  to  two  youthful 
sons  of  Ham. 

"  JMistis's  been  looking  for  you  this  long  time,  Miss,"  she 
said,  "and  the  blue-room's  been  kep'  from  all  the  company 
a  purpose  for  you.  Miss  Amy  put  her  wedding  off  two 
weeks,  account  of  you  coming,  till  young  marster's  leave 
done  out.  Mistis  say  for  me  to  bring  you  right  up  to  your 
room.  Miss." 

"  My  cousin  Amy  married  !  This  evening  !"  thought 
Fadette,  becoming  conscious  of  a  brilliant  blaze  of  light  in 
the  halls,  and  intense  though  quiet  excitement  in  the  man- 
ner of  those  domestics  whom  she  met  in  the  transit  to  "  the 
blue-room." 

"  I'll  go  tell  Mistis  you  are  here,  Miss,  and  send  Irene 
up,"  the  servant  said,  bustling  about,  drawing  the  curtains, 
and  wheeling  an  armchair  before  the  fire  Mistis  had  had 
kindled  on  account  of  the  damp. 

Fadette  threw  off  her  hat  and  cloak,  and  dropping  wea- 
rily into  the  chair,  took  a  survey  of  this  her  special  domain 
in  her  new  home.  It  was  very  appropriately  named  "  the 
blue-room."  A  faint  suggestion  of  that  color  warmed  the 
neutral-tinted  walls,  the  lace  curtains  were  festooned  with 
hangings  of  blue,  and  blue  velvet  were  chairs  and  sofa, 
harmonizing  with  oak-wood  and  light  flower-strewn  carpet. 
Flowers  in  the  vases  on  the  mantel,  the  two  or  three  valua- 
ble engravings,  and  the  small  carved  book-shelves,  with 
their  few  selected  volumes,  told  of  a  thoughtful  welcome 
to  the  stranger. 

^^  Aquila  non  mangia  moscJie^^  said  Fadette,  and  rose 
and  went  to  the  book-shelves,  to  discover  by  the  character 
of  the  food,  the  character  of  those  who  had  placed  it  there. 
She  cast,  in  passing,  a  congratulatory  glance  upon  the 
bright  face  in  the  mirror,  that  it  was  not  of  those  brunettes 
transfigured  by  the  juxtaposition  of  blue  into  jaunettes. 


RANDOLPH  UONOR.  '        81 

In  volume  after  volume  of  standard  w^orks,  modern  and 
more  ancient,  her  name  Avas  inscribed  in  tlie  same  straight- 
forward, firm,  decidedly  sliarp,  feminine  writing.  She 
looked  awed.  Here  were  no  "  mosche,"  certainly,  and  she 
seemed  to  feel  the  eagle  swQop  upon  her  luckless  self,  when 
she  should  flit  aside,  as  she  knew  she  should,  from  tlie 
straigrht  sunward  flicrht.  But  at  least  her  aunt,  if  these 
were  indeed  her  selection,  must  have  one  warm  corner  in 
her  heart,  else  she  would  hardly  have  chosen  "  The  New- 
comes,"  or  "Aurora  Leigh." 

But  the  latter  was  a  waif.  Fadette  deciphered  in  the 
careless,  rather  illegible,  but  manly  and  free  characters  on 
the  title-page,  the  name  "  Ruthvcn  Erie,"  and  beneath,  an 
explanatory  "  His  mark,^"  in  a  fair  girlish  hand. 

She  was  already  reading  quite  a  romance  in  the  united 
writings,  wherein  Cousin  Amy  was  heroine  and  bride,  and 
Ruthven  Erie  was  bridegroom — when  the  door  opened. 

The  volume  dropped  from  Fadette's  hold  as  she  went 
forward  to  meet  the  fair  and  stately  woman  who  entered. 
The  reserved  though  most  kindly  manner,  the  clear  scru- 
tiny in  the  handsome  steel-blue  eyes  bent  upon  her,  embar- 
rassed her,  and  she  could  only  stammer  half-incoherent 
replies  to  hospitable  questions,  and  the-  information  that 
her  uncle  had  gone  to  meet  her  at  the  depot — strange  that 
he  had  missed  her !  Evidently  that  warm  corner  of  the 
heart  was  not  the  vestibule  open  to  any  passer-by,  but  the 
sanctum  sanctorum — the  ris^ht  to  enter  which  mio;ht  not  be 
lightly  won. 

"  You  must  be  tired,  my  dear,"  Mrs.  Rutledge  soon  said, 
leading  Fadette  to  "her  seat  before  the  fire,  and  standing 
a  moment  with  her  hand  resting  upon  her  niece's  shoulder. 
"  I  trust,  not  too  tired  to  take  the  part  my  Amy  has  as- 
signed you  this  evening.  Your  telegram  yesterday  found 
her  in  despair  at  your  non-arrival,  you  being  first  bride- 

4* 


82  BANDOLPH  HONOR. 

maid,  and  she  and  my  nei:)hew,  who  is  to  serve  with  you, 
persistently  refusing  any  substitute.  She  would  have  de- 
layed her  wedding  yet  longer,  so  set  was  she  upon  your 
presence ;  but  our  bridegroom's  furlough  expires  to-morrow, 
and  he  leaves  almost  immediately  after  the  ceremony.  But, 
of  course.  Amy  wrote  you  all." 

"How?  when?"  inquired  Fadette,  bewildered. 

"  Did  you  not  receive  our  letters  directed  to  Richmond, 
to  the  care  of  Mrs.  Lennox  ?" 

"  Ah,  but  I  did  not  go  on  to  Richmond.  I  came  direct 
from  Xorfolk  with  a  friend  'of  Mrs.  Lennox.  I  had  heard 
nothing  of  a  wedding.  I  am  so  sorry !  I  have  so  looked 
forward  to  being  with  Amy  I" 

Her  eyes  filled  with  tears  of  disappointment.  Mrs.  Rut- 
ledge  was  gratified,  and  smiled,  as  she  said :  "  Look  for- 
ward still  then,  my  child.  Amy  is  not  to  leave  us.  Her 
husband  is  a  private  in  the  field,  and  of  course  she  cannot 
be  with  him.  You  are  not  too  weary  to  dress?  Amy  has 
everything  in  readiness  for  you — rose-color  and  white  lace. 
Stand  up  and  let  me  look  at  you.  Why,  child,  you  arc 
indeed  almost  as  tiny  as  Amy !  Irene,  your  maid,  v\nll 
still  have  time  to  make  any  slight  alterations.  I  shall  send 
her  \nXh.  your  tea,  notwithstanding  your  refusal.  After- 
ward, dress  as  quickly  as  you  can.  Amy  shall  come  to 
you  before  the  guests  assemble." 

Her  maid  was  just  tying  the  lace  sash,  and  Fadette  her- 
self arranging  before  the  mirror  a  single  white  caraelia  in 
the  dark  braids  waving  back  from  her  brow,  when  there 
came  a  manly  step  without,  a  tap  at  the  door,  and  a  cordial 
voice  calling  her  name.  Her  color  deepened,  and  her  lips 
cpiivered  in  a  smile,  as  the  next  instant  her  uncle  stood  be- 
fore her,  put  aside  her  trembling  hand,  and  folded  her  in 
his  arms. 

"  So !  flowers  and  laces  quite  forgot  ?"  he  said,  after  a 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  83 

moment,  holding  her  off  from  the  broad  shelter  of  his 
breast,  and  looking  down  upon  her  witli  kindly  hazel  eyes, 
wliieh  had  a  twinkle  in  them.  "  But,  fair  my  niece,  why 
did  you  not  note  in  the  catalogue  you  from  time  to  time  sent 
me  of  your  improvements  at  school  and  abroad,  the  beauty 
into  wliic'li  has  ripened  the  wild-eyed,  sunburnt  little  romp  ? 
Is  this  she  who,  one  winter  at  Randolph  Honor,  hid  behind 
the  hedge,  and  pelted  her  reverend  uncle  with  snowballs, 
until  he  was  fain  to  cry  quarter  ?  What !  you  laugh  !  and 
do  not  repent,  wicked  one  ?" 

"  No,  I  do  not,"  she  declared,  stoutly,  shaking  her  head 
in  defiance  of  the  gray  hairs  that  fell  in  crisp  waves  upon 
the  genial  brow,  where,  it  might  seem,  yet  lingered,  here 
and  tliere,  a  flake  of  that  snow-shower.  "I  have  not  for- 
gotten how  you  threatened  to  marry  me  to  a  brownie  of 
the  moors  away  down  South,  while  Lionel  should  be  sent 
to  Lethe  for  consoling.  JSTow  there  lives  in  our  neighbor- 
hood an  old,  old  aunt,  Lethe  by  name,  witch  and  fortune- 
teller by  profession,  of  whom  I  stood  and  stand  in  deadly 
awe,  past  whose  cabin  on  the  edge  of  the  wood  I  would 
still  scamper ;  and  to  her  keeping  I  thought  you  were  to 
consign  Lionel.  Besides,  I  knew  only  princesses  in  fairy 
tales  could,  by  right,  be  disposed  of  by  tyrant  uncles. 
So  I  was  resolved  to  vanquish  you,  and  vanquish  you  I 
did." 

"  Scorning  to  be  princess,  of  course  you  will  not  be 
Queen  of  Hearts.  You  care  nothing  for  such  baubles. 
You  are  looking  forward  to  a  winter  course  of  reading  with 
your  sage  uncle,  eh  ?" 

"  Not  one  bit  of  it,"  she  promptly  replied  to  his  arch 
glance. 

"  And  what  has  become  of  Master  Lionel  ?  Randolph 
still  a  prisoner  ?" 

"  Still.     I  wrote  to  Lionel  from  Norfolk,"  she  went  on, 


84  RAXDOLPU  HOXOR. 

mth  color  very  slightly  heightened.  "  He  is  in  tlie  Virginia 
army,  and — " 

The  door,  slightly  ajar,  was  j^ushed  wider,  and  a  low, 
musical  voice  asked —  < 

"  May  I  come  in  ?" 

That  might  have  seemed  a  vision  which,  npon  Fadette's 
summons,  glided  into  and  across  the  room,  had  it  not  now 
proven  itself  by  a  most  unvisionary  embrace.  TThite  gos- 
samer robes ; 

''  Golden  ti'esses  wreathed  in  one, 
As  the  braided  streamlets  run ;" 

deep  violet  eyes,  loving,  truthful,  timid ;  a  childlike  brow, 
and  childlike  fi-eshness  in  the  blue-veined  fairness  and  soft 
rose-tints  ;  a  mouth  for  smiles  and  loving  words,  quivering 
now  and  then  at  the  remembrance  of  words  presently  to  be 
si^oken. 

And  now  the  mother  stays  a  moment  in  the  doorway, 
commends  Fadette's  promptitude  in  dressing,  tells  both 
girls  they  "  will  do  A'ery  well,"  and  must  come  directly 
down,  and  while  the  daughter  nestles  in  the  fathers  out- 
stretched arms,  for  the  last  time  all  his  own,  takes  Fadette 
under  her  wing,  bearing  her  off  to  be  introduced  to  bride- 
maids  and  attendant  cavaliers. 

Mrs.  Rutledge  led  the  way  to  the  library ;  but  no  one 
was  witliin.  And  when  Amy  soon  sent  for  her  mother, 
Fadette  was  left  alone. 

That  comfortable  posture,  half  reclining  within  a  bow- 
window,  where  festooned  lace  softened  the  light  from  the 
chandelier,  was  pleasant  after  weariness  of  travel  and  sleep- 
less nights  preceding.  Fadette  drooped  her  head  upon  her 
hand,  and  from  reverie  passed  into  a  light  dreamful  doze. 
In  it,  the  past  now  outstripped,  now  jostled,  now  went 
hand  in  hand  with  the  future.     A  thousrht  of  Lionel  and 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  So 

of  that  troth-plighting,  mingled  with  a  vision  of  this  wed- 
ding, where  she  was  conscious  of  being  Fadette,  yet  Amy 
the  bride,  and  Lionel  strangely  blended  with  the  bride- 
groom, Ruthven  Erie. 

Perhaps  this  closing  scene  was  suggested  by  a  dreamily 
overheard  conversation  ;  for  at  that  moment  she  was  roused 
by  low  tones,  and  between  sleeping  and  waking  half  opened 
her  eyes.  They  were  too  misty  with  slumber  to  take  more 
than  a  vague  view  of  the  rose-colored  'bridemaid,  who, 
from  her  seat  near  the  hearth,  was  looking  up  so  prettily 
to  the  gentleman  before  her.     But  her  words  were  clear : 

"  Yes,  dear  little  Amy  is  undoubtedly  perfectly  happy. 
Do  you  know,  I  cannot  but  wonder  at  it,  betrothed  as  she 
was,  from  earliest  girlhood,  to  her  cousin.  And  certainly 
Mr.  Erie  is  a  man  to  whom  one  could  well  submit  to  be 
betrothed,  even  Avithout  the  exercise  of  one's  own  free-will. 
You  smile.  No,  I  do  not  see  that  Mr.  Weir,  bridegroom 
though  he  is  chosen,  and  friend  as  he  is  of  mine,  is  Mr. 
Erie's  equal  in  any  one  respect.  Yes,  indeed,  I  do  hon- 
estly own  to  quite  sharing  in  the  universal  furor  about  that 
gallant  cavalier.  What  do  you  say — that  x4my  did  not 
share  in  it  ?  She  behaved  angelically,  as  indeed  she  does 
in  all  things,  but  I  cannot  think  her  breaking  of  the  en- 
gagement was  entirely  optional — was  not  rather  brought 
on  in  a  degree  through  his  coolness  on  his  return  from 
Arkansas.  Do  you  not  remember  a  rumor  of  a  flirtation 
there  ?  Under  the  rose,  my  beau  ideal  is  perhaps  slightly 
given  to  flirting." 

Whether  "  on  this  hint  he  spake,"  Fadette  did  not  give 
heed.  She  was  engrossed  in  the  overthrow  of  the  romance 
she  had  been  building  up.  In  her  edifice,  the  theory  of 
first  love  was  the  very  corner-stone  of  the  foundation,  the 
removal  of  which  must  cause  the  fall  of  the  entire  fabric. 
And  great  was  the  fall  thereof.     So  great,  that  she  could 


86  RAXnOLPH  ROXOR. 

hardly  believe  sweet  Amy  now  escaped  unbruised  from  the 
ruins,  and  standing  on  the  threshold  of  a  second  mansion 
of  happiness,  whicli,  since  that  founded  upon  a  rock  had 
tottered,  could  hardly  remain  firm  among  the  shifting 
sands. 

While  with  brow  bowed  on  her  palm  she  pondered, 
troubled,  on  the  cloud  she  thought  to  discern  hovering 
above  her  cousin,  and  traced  to  it  the  varying  shadow  she 
had  seen  flitting  over  that  fair  face,  the  door  opened,  and 
there  entered  bridemaids  and  bridemen,  gathering  now  in 
a  merry  group  around  the  fire. 

Fadette  did  not  move.  Her  retreat  was  partly  veiled 
from  them,  and  to  present  herself  alone  among  strangers 
was  alarming.  But  ten  minutes  were  not  elapsed,  when 
the  curtains  were  parted  wider.  • 

It  was  one  of  those  strangers,  to  whom  she  glanced 
up  hurriedly — a  tall,  strong-built  man,  perhaps  not  hand- 
some, yet  whose  fair  waving  hair  and  beard  were  well  set 
oflT  by  the  gray  and  gold  uniform,  whose  noble  head  and 
square  broad  forehead  conveyed  at  once  the  knowledge  of 
power,  and  whose  deep-blue  eyes  met  Fadette's  with  a  puz- 
zling expression,  while  he  extended  his  hand,  accosting  her 
by  name. 

"  My  aunt,  Mrs.  Rutledge,  sent  me  here,"  he  said,  "  to 
seek  my  truant  bridemaid.  Will  you  let  me  plead  an 
almost  cousinship,  in  apology  for  thus  unceremoniously 
introducing  Ruthven  Erie  ?" 

That  name,  coming  as  it  did  while  she  was  yet  regret- 
fully regarding  the  demolition  of  her  romance  and  pour- 
ing out  thoughts  of  pity  on  her  cousin,  who  must  have  been, 
if  she  were  not  now,  made  so  unhappy,  roused  in  the  hasty 
impulsive  girl  a  prejudice  against  its  owner.  And  not 
very  graciously,  seeing  that  he  still  stood  before  her  abat- 
ing nothing  of  his  demand,  she  yielded  him  the  tips  of  cold 


RANDOLni  HONOR  87 

reluctant  fingers.  And  when  he  lifted  the  tiny  glove  she 
dropped,  and  held  it  outstretched  upon  the  palm  of  his  own 
well-shapen  hand,  on^  instant  before  returning  it  to  her, 
she  forgot  to  render  thanks,  declai'ing  in  her  own  mind 
that  she  was  going  to  hate  him — that  she  knew — slie  did 
not  care,  though  he  was  her  aunt's  nephew. 

The  introduction  thus  had  led  to  scarcely  monosyllabic 
acquaintance,  when  the  bridal  tableau  at  length  formed  in 
the  drawing-room. 

The  tearless,  tranquil,  solemn  ceremony  was  over.  The 
aged  white-stoled  clergyman  had  in  God's  name  joined 
those  together  whom  none  might  put  asunder.  The  tear- 
less, trembling  bride  had  lost  her  pallor  in  a  blush,  as  her 
friends  came  forward.  And  the  handsome  young  soldier- 
husband's  flush  of  triumph  had  waxed  prouder  yet,  while 
he  drew  within  his  arm  that  little  clinging  hand  which  was* 
his  own. 

Fadette's  hand  rested  within  Mr.  Erie's  arm,  while  she 
passed  through  the  drawing-rooms,  detained  now  by  Mr. 
Rutledge,  until  a  host's  duties  summoned  him  away,  and 
again  by  Mrs.  Rutledge's  introductions — but  ever  reclaimed 
by  her  attendant  brideman,  as  by  prior  right.  Fadette 
more  than  suspected,  after  detecting,  a  lurking  smile  of 
amusement  following  upon  some  involuntary  retort  of  her 
own,  that  he  had  perceived  her  sudden  aversion,  and  was 
bent  on  overcoming  it.  So,  laughing  v\'ithin  herself,  she 
tacitly  acquiesced  in  his  engrossing  attentions,  flashed  back 
merry  repartee,  mocked  at  his  serious  words,  aflected  dul- 
ness  for  his  bo7iS-mots,  and  altogether  was  as  mischievous, 
fascinating  a  fairy,  as  ever  hovered  in  and  out  among  the 
roses  on  a  cloudless  starlit  night. 

Pacing  to  and  fro  on  the  gallery  among  those  roses,  in 
reply  to  a  well-turned,  though  flowery  compliment,  she 
rallied  him  upon  the  fairy  gift  so  lavishly  to  confer  Jieurettes, 


88  RAXDOLPII  HOXOR. 

and  reminded  him,  while  she  paused  to  gather  a  blossom, 
how  long  the  tliorns  outlasted  it. 

He  looked  down  upon  her  smile  as  she  stood  fastening 
the  flower  in  her  dress.  Evidently  the  walls  of  that  for- 
tress of  prejudice,  so  hastily  erected  and  armed  against 
him,  were  not  to  fall  down  at  sound  of  the  trumpet  of  her 
praises  seven  times  blown  upon. 

"I  accept  the  challenge,"  he  said  to  himself — "Let  roses 
wither  and  thorns  be  yours,  my  little  one,  until  you  shall 
e'en  set  me  upon  the  topmost  jDinnacle  of  enmity,  quite 
apart  from  and  above  my  fellows." 

So  he  rejoined  carelessly — 

"Therefore  the  wary  among  rose-fanciers  do  not  carry 
their  hearts  in  their  hands,  lest  they  be  torn  quite  in  pieces 
by  vidette  thorns.  Look  you,  that  rosebud  in  your  bosom 
Jias  stabbed  and  wounded  no  one.  The  red  ones  are  bright 
in  the  blood  of  the  slain.  'Lender  which  king,  Lancaster 
or  York,  are  you  ?' "  He  bent  forv>'ard  for  a  glimpse  of  her 
averted  face,  where  York  had  quickly  unfurled  warlike 
ensign. 

"  I  would  I  were  a  great  sharp  thorn  I  You  are  exces- 
sively imjDer — " 

She  stopped,  dismayed. 

" yious  to  small  ones  ?"  he  supplied,  in  j^erfect  good- 
humor. 

She  checked  herself,  biting  her  lips  while  the  color  surged 
to  her  brow.  She  half  withdrew  her  hand  from  his  arm. 
But  a  vision  of  her  lone  self  recrossing  the  broad  hall,  to 
seek  her  aunt  in  those  thronged  drawing-rooms,  and,  too,  a 
sense  of  shame-faced  childishness  in  her  anger,  made  her 
refrain  from  the  display  of  it.  So,  after  a  moment,  she 
suggested  following  some  of  the  promenaders  as  they  passed 
within. 

"I  have  no  manner  of  doubt,"  he  said,  as  he  turned. 


RANDOLPH  IIOXOR. 


89 


promptly  obedient,  "dozens  of  rose-fanciers  have  this  hour 
been  heaping  anathemas  upon  devoted  me,  in  that  I  liave 
borne  triumphantly  off  the  freshest  acquisition  to  our  city 
conservatories."  And  ostentatiously  lifting  his  hand,  the 
proportions  and  the  whiteness  of  which  Fadette,  in  spite  of 
herself,  could  not  but  admire,  he  stroked  his  moustache 
with  an  exquisite  air,  and  an  ineffable  smile  at  invisible 
rivals. 

"  Xot  too  early,  I  perceive,"  he  remarked,  on  entering 
the  drawing-room.  "  Weir  there  is  speaking  to  our  aunt  as 
if  about  to  take  leave.  He  goes  at  once  to  his  regiment  in 
Virginia.  My  poor  little  Amy !  But  the  honey-moon  and 
its  pleasing  lunacy  will  endure  the  longer." 

In  the  last  sentence,  he  banished  the  touch  of  feeling  in 
the  mention  of  his  cousin's  name,  and  with  it  the  relenting 
of  his  listener.     She  asked,  somewhat  anxiously — 

"And  you?" 

"I?  oh,  you  shall  see  me  frequently."  Fadette  heard 
with  an  equivocal  lifting  of  the  brows.  "  Quite  live  here 
when  off  duty.  Stationed  at  Moultrie— not  to  be  dispensed 
with  in 'the  defences  of  the  harbor.  Though,  for  that  mat- 
ter, neither  am  I  here.  There  should  have  been  a  family 
arrangement  at  one  time  between  little  Amy  and— but— 
a — "  he  ended  with  an  affectation  of  embarrassed  con- 
sciousness. 

Fadette's  eyes  flashed  upon  him,  and  she  dropped  his 
anil  as  quickly  as  possible,  on  reaching  the  bay  window, 
where  gathered  almost  a  family  group.  The  few  guests 
there  conversed  somewhat  apart,  thus  leaving  space  for 
the  last  words  of  the  departing  bridegroom. 

"  O  my  cousin  shallow-hearted  !  O  my  Amy— mine  no 
more !"  ejaculated,  in  mock  agony,  Mr.  Erie,  at  the  same 
time  interposing  his  broad  shoulders  between  the  "  shallow- 
hearted"  and  curious  or  careless  observers. 


90 


RANDOLPH  UOXOR 


Thoy  were  dispersing  now.  Mr.  Weir  had  shaken  hands, 
and  so  had  those  comrades  who  were  to  yetiirn  with  liim  to 
the  army. 

He  paused,  the  last,  upon  the  gallery,  and  sighed  heavily. 
But  a  tiny  white  figure  glided  like  a  moonbeam  through 
the  shadows — a  small  hand  was  laid  timidly  in  his — one 
instant,  she  was  clasped  to  his  breast — the  next,  they 
wei"e  parted. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


SOUR    GRAPES. 


Little  head,  leant  on'the  pane, 

Little  finger  drawing  down  it 

The  long  trailing  drops  upon  it— 

And  the  "  Rain,  rain,  come  to-morrow," 

Said  for  charm  against  the  rain.'  " 

Mils.  Browning. 


S  these  lines  were  pronounced  behind  her,  Fadette 
started  from  her  tvrilight  occupation  thus  de- 
scribed, and  confronted  the  speaker,  Ruthven  Erie. 
Confronted — for  during  her  month's  residence  here  in 
Charleston,  she  had  learned  to  be  up  in  arms  at  the  very 
sound  of  his  voice.  Yet  though  that  voice  alone  in  all  her 
bright  young  life  had  thwarted  or  contradicted  her — though 
the  word-warfare  was  wont  to  be  repeated  at  every  fre- 
quently recurring  visit — though  in  many  a  skirmish  her 
"black  flag"  had  gone  down,  and  she  now  shrugged  her 
shoulders  and  suppressed  a  "  Provoking  !"  before  replyinsj 
to  him — still,  in  spite  of  herself,  the  rain  dripped,  dripped, 
in  less  dismal  monotony  from  the  eaves. 

"So  you  actually  dare  thus  jeopardize  your  Attic  salt?" 
she  said,  slowly  yielding  her  hand  in  greeting,  as  he  waited 
determinedly  for  her  to  do. 

"  Left  every  particle  behind  me  in  garrison,"  he  replied, 
leaning  beside  her  against  the  window-frame,  with  a  deep 
breath  of  comfort.  "  And  ventured  across  the  raging  bil- 
lows— how  they   did    rage! — all    for   the   sake  of  a   fair 


92  RANDOLPH  IIOXOR     ' 

maiden,  who  should  therefore  be  a  little  complaisant.  A 
dull  day." 

"  Xot  at  all.  Music  and  letter-writing  in  the  morning, 
with  any  amount  of  gossiping  and  soldiers'  work,  and  a 
book  this  evening,  left  nothing  to  be  desired." 

"  Indeed  !  Amy  says  she  and  some  one — my  aunt,  doubt- 
less— were  wishing  for  one  Rutliven  Erie  to  read  aloud 
'  Testimony  of—' " 

Fadette  blushed  and  laughed. 

"Well,  and  if  I  did,"  she  interrupted,  "that  is  because 
Hugh  Miller  is  easiest  of  comprehension  A\4th  a  peripatetic 
geological  dictionary.  But  this  book,  Mr.  Erie,  brought 
you  even  more  vividly  before  me  this  evening." 

He  bent  down  over  the  volume  she  extended,  reading  in 
the  waning  light — 

" '  Vanity  Fair !'  "What,  is  it  gentle  William  who  em- 
bodies me  ?  Ivight  glad  am  I  there  was  never  masculine 
Becky  Sharpe." 

"  Xo,  no.  But  you  are  an  embodied  chapter.  Will  you 
deny  it  ?  Who  then  stands  aloof  in  Vanity  Fair,  watch- 
ing and  amiably  sneering  at  feeble  vacillating  gropers  in 
the  dark,, or  at  the  few  who,  able  to  discern  the  golden 
sun,  covetously  stare  themselves  blinder  than  the  blindest 
whom  they  lead  ?" 

"  How  can  I  watch,  who  am  stumbling  in  Vanity  Fair 
^vith  all  the  crowd  ?" 

"  If  you  are,  your  eyes  are  open,  and  you  can  therefore 
laugh  at  the  ridiculous  capers  cut  by  your  friends,  as  you 
are  laughing  now  at  my  moralizing  mood.  Xo,  it  is  vain 
to  put  up  your  hand,  hoping  to  conceal  that  smile.  My 
eyes,  too,  happen  to  be  open  just  at  this  moment ;  and  see 
how  my  charm  against  the  rain  has  dispelled  it !" 

She  unclosed  the  long  French  window,  and  he  followed 
her  out  upon  the  gallery. 


RANDOLPH  TIOXOR  93 

Indeed,  "  such  a  charm  was  right  Canidiaii."  For  now 
across  the  dripping  lawn  a  setting  sunbeam  stole,  and 
snowy  clouds,  just  tipped  with  flame  and  gold,  drifted 
across  the  skyey  dome.  So  clear,  so  deeply  blue,  that 
dome  uplifted  itself  higher  than  ever  above  the  waving 
canopies,  which,  floating  in  mid-air,  seemed  rather  to  be- 
long to  earth.  The  low-branched  trees  which  trailed  almost 
to  the  ground,  and  so  shut  out  all  save  a  shifting  glimpse 
of  the  tall  iron  railing  and  the  street  beyond,  still  tossed 
off;  gust  by  gust,  their  freighted  streams.  The  violets  and 
hyacinths  scattered  broadcast  over  the  sward  beneath  the 
live-oaks,  and  the  fringe  of  valley-lilies  under  the  glossy 
Cherokee  hedge,  sent  up  their  sweetest  dewy  odors  on  the 
moist  breeze,  which  here  where  Fadette  stood,  shook  out 
with  each  shower  of  rain-drops  fresh  perfumes  from  clam- 
bering rose-clusters. 

"  There,"  she  said,  caressing  Leo,  who  had  bounded  to 
her  side  from  his  couchant  posture  on  the  gallery  steps — 
"  there  is  one  golden  streak  in  the  twilight.  A  clear  mor- 
row at  last,  I  prophesy." 

"  A  more-than-ever-stormy  morrow,"  he  prophesied,  teas- 
ingly.  "  Be  advised  by  me,  and  philosophically  welcome 
this  weather  as  inuring  to  the  dreariness  of  the  backwoods. 
There,  amid  not  only  water  down-dropping,  but  water  sur- 
rounding, paroquets  alone  will  take  up  from  the  moss-grown 
dim  old  forest  the  conversational  treble,  and  frogs,  from 
beneath  your  very  gallery  steps,  the  bass.  When  you  are 
once  quietly  settled  on  my  place  in  Arkansas — " 

"But,"  Fadette  cried  impatiently,  "because  the  Yan- 
kees at  Port  Royal  have  taken  possession  of  my  uncle's 
plantation,  and  because  he  has  been  obliged  to  remove  his 
negroes  to  your  horrible  Arkansas  swamp,  it  does  not  neces- 
sarily follow  that  he  will  remove  us  there.  I  am  sure,  when 
he  sees  for  himself  how  unbearably  desolate —  But  you  shall 


94  RAXDOLPU  HOXOR 

not  make  me  quarrel  this  day  of  days.  Xo,  not  although 
you  do  raise  your  broMS  with  such  exasperating  doubt. 
For,  Mr.  Erie,  this  day  has  been  set  apart,  from  all  its  fel- 
lows, by  the  arrival  of  a  letter  from  my  guardian." 

She  glanced  up  to  him,  as  if  for  some  response  to  her 
gladness.  But  his  eyes  fell  suddenly  from  hers,  and  he 
walked  on  by  her  side  in  silence. 

After  a  moment  he  spoke. 

"I,  too,  have  had  my  letter  to-day.  TThat,  you  are  curi- 
ous ?  Aye,  from  your  other  guardian — and  '  tliereby  hangs 
a  tale.'  Where  its  scene  is  to  be  laid,  in  Arkansas  or 
Charleston,  I  alone  can  unfold.  My  letter  against  yours — 
a  fair  exchange.  Xo" — as  she  lifted  her  head  defiantly — 
"■  quite  in  Aain  to  think  of  asking  Amy  or  my  aunt,  as  I 
have  yet  shown  my  letter  to  neither." 

"  Ah,  Mr.  Erie,  do  tell  me !  Do  say  we  are  not  to 
go!" 

"  Your  letter,  your  letter,  or  I  disclose  absolutely  noth- 
ing.    What  did  your  guardian  write  of?" 

Her  blushes  came  fast  and  hotly. 

"  Of  what  should  he  write,  in  the  regulation-page  of  note 
paper,  open  for  inspection  '?" 

Her  stammering  speech  betrayed  her.  He  looked  with 
an  intensity  of  earnestness  down  upon  her  downcast  face. 
As  he  looked,  he  paled  somewhat. 

"  Come,  come,  his  topic.     Mine  is  fully  worth  it." 

"  Well  then,"  she  said,  lifting  her  head  with  an  assump- 
tion of  carelessness.     "  Behold  one  of  the  topics." 

She  extended,  with  the  words,  the  hand  on  which  was 
Lionel's  ring,  guarded  by  the  diamond.  She  tapped  the 
glittering  gem,  and  held  it  out  so  that  the  waning  light 
flashed  on  it. 

In  truth,  her  guardian's  letter  had  chiefly  borne,  in  am- 
biguous phi-ase,  upon  the  bond  of  which  Lionel's  ring  was 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  95 

the  sign-manual,  and  of  which  Lionel  had  found  means  to 
inform  him. 

But  Ruthven  Erie  was  not  deceived  by  the  diamond- 
glitter.  Bending  down  closely  toward  it,  he  had  deciphered 
the  tiny  L.  R.  engraven  on  the  signet,  in  a  scroll  beneath 
the  cameo  design. 

He  did  not  start,  for  it  was  almost  what  he  had  expected. 
But  it  was  some  seconds  before  he  spoke. 

"A  strange  subject  for  a  Flag  of  Truce  prison-letter. 
Am  I  to  infer  that  it  is  of  the  gem's  intrinsic  value  ?  Let 
me  examine  it,  w^hile  I  recount  my  tidings." 

"  It  is  an  heir-loom,"  she  said,  carelessly,  putting  it  into 
his  hand.  "  Magnificent,  is  it  not  ?  There  needs  many  a 
caution  to  take  care  of  it.  The  other  ?  Oh,  that  my  guar- 
dian and  I  selected  together  in  Florence.  An  ugly  thhig, 
but  curious." 

She  yielded  it  too;  the  flush  of  shame  for  her  equivoca- 
tion only  very  slightly  heightened. 

"  Lloyd  Randolph  ?"  he  said,  half  absently,  half  inquir- 
ingly. 

He  missed  the  instantaneous  expression  of  relief  which 
flitted  over  Fadette's  face.  How  stupid  in  her ! — certainly 
he  would  think  it  her  guardian's  ring.  And  certainly  she 
would  keep  up  the  delusion. 

She  presently  forgot  signet  and  diamond  ii^  his  news. 
Yes,  Mr.  Rutledge  had  really  written,  and  Mr.  Erie  must 
endeavor  to  obtain  a  month's  leave,  arid  escort  the  family 
out  to  Arkansas,  whither  master  and  servants  had  preceded. 

She  was  still  pacing  up  and  down,  half-tearful  and  half- 
indignant,  deaf  to  any  word  of  comfort  which  Ruthven 
Erie  might  utter,  when  a  step  sounded  behind  her  on  the 
gravelled  pathway.  Leo  had  leaped  from  her  side  with  a 
sharp  bark  of  joy.  She  turned— she  sprang  forward,  and 
both  her  hands  were  caught  in  the  clasp  of  Li  jnel's. 


96  RANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

Yet  though  that  clasp  was  close,  when  she  looked  up 
joyously  his  glance  did  not  meet  hers.  In  her  excitement, 
she  did  not  at  once  wonder  at  this,  but  followed  his  eyes 
to  Ruthven  Erie,  who  now  stood  alone.  The  rings  flashed 
instantly  upon  her  mind.  What  must  Lionel  think  ?  But 
she  gave  no  outward  sign ;  only  introduced  the  two  gen- 
tlemen, saw  them  shake  hands — cordially  on  Ruthven  Erie's 
part,  somewhat  coolly  on  that  of  Lionel.  And  she  kept  up 
the  conversation  gayly  enough,  not  forgetting  to  address 
Lionel  invariably  as  Tom, — by  which  allusion  to  Tom 
Brown's  adventures,  however,  she  failed  to  provoke  a 
smile.  And  when  subjects  of  special  interest  to  the  two 
home  friends  more  frequently  recurred,  and  Ruthven  Erie 
at  last  re-entered  the  house,  she  called  after  him  to  tell  Mrs. 
Rutledge  and  Amy  that  Captain  Randolj^h  had  arrived. 

Then,  as  if  unconscious  of  delinquency,  she  linked  her 
arm  in  a  matter-of-course  way  in  Lionel's,  and  the  two 
paced  ujD  and  down  together. 

She  observed  his  clouded  face. 

"  If  you  have  no  word  for  me  this  evening,  Lionel,"  she 
said  quietly,  after  a  turn  or  two,  "  I  may  as  well  leave  you 
to  your  meditations." 

She  knew  too  well  that  they  were  all  of  her,  and  that  his 
arm  would  draw  hers  closer.  Xor  had  she  the  sliofhtest 
intention  of  going. 

But  though  he  drew  it  closer,  the  cloud  deepened,  and 
he  said,  angrily — 

"  Go  then.  That  damned  Erie  is  waiting  for  you,  doubt- 
less." 

*'  Lionel  I  do  you  speak  thus  to  me  ?" 

"Fadette,  how  can  you  torture  me  thus?  You  abuse 
your  power.  You  know  it  is  absolute — that  I  cannot,  if  I 
would,  free  myself^that  I  dare  not  lift  and  cast  aside  these 
lightly-lying,   velvet-soft  fingers  resting  so  carelessly,  so 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  97 

pulsclcssly,  against  my  lieart.  You  know,  were  you  to  tell 
me  now  that  you  had  but  a  little,  a  very  little  love  for  me, 
I  would  entreat — Fadette,  give  me  that  little  !  Leave  me 
not  utterly  destitute !" 

He  entreated  now.  And  her  hand  tapped  his  arm  gently, 
as  it  might  have  done  that  of  an  importunate  child. 

"]My  dear  Lionel,  don't  be  absurd.  Have  I  not  given 
you  all  my  heart  can  hold  ?  You  must  be  the  judge,  but 
you  seemed  to  think  it  enough  to  be  worth  the  having.  As 
for  this  idea  about  Ruthven  Erie,  let  me  tell  you  we  both 
hate  very  cordially,  notwithstanding  that  occasionally  we 
find  each  other  amusing.  You  are  in  more  danger  from 
the  scowling  man  in  the  moon  up  there,  so  far  as  our  pro- 
pinquity is  concerned.  And  don't  be  so  v^ry  self-distrust- 
ful. Did  you  never  hear  of  the  lover  whom  his  mistress 
told  deprecatingly,  that  she  was  not  worthy  of  him  ?  He 
answered  that  she  ought  to  know  best,  of  course." 

An  hour  or  two  after,  when  Fadette  was  for  a  few  mo- 
ments alone  in  the  drawing-room,  there  came  approaching 
footsteps  on  the  gallery  without.  Lionel  had  left  her  for 
an  hour  after  dinner.  Despatched  on  army  business  to 
Charleston,  he  had  only  this  evening  to  give  her.  But  it 
was  not  to  meet  him,  that  she  now  advanced.  She  knew 
the  step  well,  and  when  she  found  Mr.  Erie  alone  lounging 
without,  in  the  leisurely  enjoyment  of  his  cigar,  it  was  as 
she  expected.  She  must  have  her  ring  back  before  Lionel 
should  come  again. 

Ruthven  Erie  rose  as  she  advanced,  and  offered  his  chair. 

"Confess,"  he  said,  while  she  hesitated,  yet  finally  took, 
possession,  and  he  seated  himself  on  the  low  balustrade — 
"  you  advanced  to  meet  black  eyes  and  moustaches." 

"Blue  eyes  are  sometimes  astoundingly  clear-sighted, 
Mr.  Erie." 


08  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

"  Thank  you.  And  now  another  question.  Do  five  f-et 
eight  and  incipient  moustaches  invariably  comprise  'an 
abridgment  of  all  that  is  pleasant  in  man  ?'  " 

"  Xot  unfrequently.  You  who  are  so  apt  at  quotations," 
she  continued,  with  an  arch  side-glance,  "  doubtless  remem- 
ber, '  often  the  cockloft  is  empty  in  those  whom  nature  hath 
builded  many  stories  high.'" 

"  Have  mercy,  my  Lady  Disdain,  else  you  reduce  me  to 
biing  up  my  entire  reserve  corps  of  words,  and 

" '  Put  my  whole  wit  in  a  jest, 
Resolved  to  live  a  fool  the  rest    • 
Ofmy  dull  life.'" 

"  What !  you  Sir  Sapient,  do  you  not  know  that  '  words 
are  wise  men's  counters — they  do  but  reckon  by  them ;  but 
they  are  the  money  of  fools  ?'  " 

"  They  can  then  buy  me  no  substitute  for  the  shafts  of 
my  fair — yet  how  unfair  enemy  !" 

"  Pocket  them,  most  valiant  knight,  like  him  of  old,  who 

*"  Although  be  had  much  wit, 
"Was  very  shy  of  using  it.'  " 

"  A  truce,  a  truce.     And  in  token  thereof — "  he  began. 

"  And  in  token  thereof,"  she  interposed — "  my  ring.  Sir, 
if  you  please." 

"  The  precious  heir-loom  ?" 

He  placed  it  in  her  hand,  but  she  still  kept  it  extended. 

He  appeared  not  to  notice  it,  until  she  said,  with  unas- 
sumed  timidity,  and  a  blush  which,  though  involuntary, 
was  exceedingly  d  2?ro2:>os : 

"  My — my — guardian's  ring,  Mr.  Erie." 

She  colored  deeper  and  deeper  beneath  his  steady  gaze. 
After  a  moment,  he  held  out  his  hand  also. 

"  In  token  of  a  truce,  I  will  restore  it,"  he  replied.     Then, 


RANDOLPH  HONOB,  99 

as  he  placed  it  upon  her  finger,  added,  "  Yet  a  truce  is  mere 
child's  play.  Let  us  now  and  hereby  swear  a  peace.  Tru- 
ly, I  have  not  been  a  'man  of  war  from  my  youth  up,'  and 
you  would  not  crush  a  conquered  foe  who  thus  surrenders 
at  discretion  *?" 

"  Vastly  pretty — '  that  was  laid  on  with  a  trowel :'  "  the 
girl  laughed. 

He  dropped  her  hand,  rejoining,  half-amused,  half-vexed: 

"  Hang  quotations — why  cannot  you  be  original  ?  Hang 
me,  too,  if  I  ever  use  another." 

"Really,  Mr.  Erie,"  Fadette  exclaimed  after  a  pause, 
during  which  he  had  resumed  his  seat  and  his  cigar,  and 
she  had  been  pulling  idly  at  the  yet  dripping,  trailing 
roses,  now  and  then  sending  a  shower  down  upon  her,  "  I 
am  more  and  more  convinced  that  you  are  one  of  nature's 
grand  mistakes,  obviously  intended  for  a  smoky  chimney. 
And  to  fulfil  your  destiny,  there  needs  but  a  scolding  wife. 
What  a  pretty  proverb  the  couple  would  enact !" 

He  flung  the  end  of  his  cigar  over  his  shoulder,  lazily 
folding  his  arms,  and  leaning  upon  the  gallery-column,  as 
he  replied : 

"  Exactly  my  own  opinion.  But  there  is  one  difficulty 
in  the  way.  Of  scolding  wives  there  is  no  dearth.  But 
the  young  ladies,  pretty  dears,  have  not  even  the  word 
scold  in  their  vocabularies.  That  is  a  lesson  not  to  be 
learned  before  they  outgrow  bread-and-butter,  and  the 
milk-and-water  of  human  kindness." 

"  Oh,  the  first  thunder-cloud  turns  that  sour.  By  the 
way,  where  got  you  your  acidity?  Are  you  very  sure 
there  are  no  sour  grapes  in  the  question  ?" 

"I  am  very  sure  there  are." 

"  Ah,  do  tell  me  all  about  them,"  and  she  bent  eagerly 
forward  in  her  chair — "  I'm  the  best  confidant  in  the 
world — won't  tell  a  soul  beyond — " 


100  EASDOLPH  HOXOR. 

"Listen." 

He  lowered  his  voice  and  fixed  his  eyes  upon  her  as  he 
went  on : 

"The  grapes  in  question  positively  won't  be  plucked. 
They  grow  aloft,  quite  out  of  reach,  and  have  hedged  them- 
selves about  with  the  fiercest  thorns  imaginable.  They  are 
not  going  to  ripen  and  fall  down  at  anybody's  feet,  even 
should  market-day  come  and  go.  They  will  have  the  win- 
ner climb  for  them  ;  and  as  for  throwing  him  down  a  tendril 
to  aid  in  the  ascent — not  they  !  And  some  one — for  aught 
I  know,  some  one  I  must  not  strive  to  outstrip — may  be 
climbing  higher  up  on  the  other  side  of  the  tree." 

"  Handsome  grapes  ?" 

"  Very." 

"White  or  dark?" 

"  Decidedly  on  the  brunette  order." 

"  Large  or  small  ?" 

"  Quite  a  slender  bunch." 

"Young?" 

"  Certainly  not  green.  By  the  by,"  he  added,  changing 
air  and  attitude,  and  banishing  with  a  mocking  smile  the 
melancholy  brooding  in  the  keen  eyes  and  around  the  sar- 
castic mouth — "by  the  by,  is  it  altogether  out  of  rule 
respectfully  to  inquire  your  age  ?  I'll  give  you  the  year  of 
her  birth,  if  you  will  give  me  the  year  of  yours." 

"  But  were  you  in  earnest  just  now  ?"  she  asked,  waiving 
his  question  and  coloring  slightly,  half  ashamed  of  her 
seventeen  years, 

"Perfectly  so." 

"  And  when  did  you  see  the  dark  ladye  ?" 

"  Let  me  see — about  the  spring  or  early  summer." 

"I  cannot  imagine  whom  you  mean.  You  won't  tell 
me  ?    Then  let  me  ask — forgive  if  I  am  impertinent,  but 


BANDOLPH  HONOR.  101 

you  do  look  so  very  resigned — wliy  you  did  not  then  at- 
tempt the  seizure  of  the  spoils  ?" 

"Merely  because  I  am  not  a  fool." 

"That  word  was.,  once  upon  a  time,  synonymous  with 
jester.     I  wish  you  would  look  as  you  did  a  moment  ago." 

"  Why  ?"  he  asked. 

"  Oh,  because  you  so  reminded  me  of — I  don't  know 
whom — but  something  in  the  eyes  when  they  were  trou- 
bled.    You  are  quite  changed  now." 

"  Do  you  forget  faces  ?"  he  asked,  shading  his  from  the 
light  which  now  streamed  from  the  drawing-room  window. 

"  I  forget  every  thing." 

"  Every  thing  ?" 

"  Every  thing  in  the  world  save  ancient  prejudices,  Mr. 
Erie,"  she  replied,  gayly. 

"  The  most  narrow-minded — " 

He  spoke  almost  angrily,  and  she  interrupted  him  in  no 
milder  tone. 

"  Until  I  choose  my  Mentor,  Sir — " 

"Still  at  your  wonted  warfare,  Miss  Belligerent?"  a 
voice  asked  at  her  side.  She  turned  as  Amy  tapped  her 
shoulder.  The  nlomentary  vexation  passed,  and  she  re- 
sponded with  a  smile : 

"Aye.  The  chivalry  hath  laid  siege  to  Sumter,  but  the 
bulletin  is  still  '  nobody  hurt.'  " 

"  Excepting  the  besieger,"  interposed  Mr.  Erie,  ruefully. 
"But  what  can  the  chivalry  do  when  the  belligerent  is 
also  belle-regent  ?" 

"  A  reward  for  the  worst  pun  on  record,"  laughed  Amy. 
"  Come,  mocking-bird,  a  song  !" 

Ruthven  Erie  stood  beside  Fadette  at  the  piano,  turning 
the  leaves  of  her  music,  while  his  glance  wandered  from 


102  RANDOLPH  IIOXOR. 

her  bright  face  to.  the  rather  dissatisfied  one  of  Captain 
Randolph,  who  across  tlie  room  kept  up  a  desultory  con- 
versation with  Amy.  Fadette  selected  a  song,  and  open- 
ing it,  nodded  to  Lionel,  saying — 

"  Your  old  favorite  now,  Tom." 

Ruthven  Erie  bent  down  and  asked,  abruptly : 

"  Is  he  the  brother  of—" 

"My  guardian?  Yes,"  she  made  answer,  looking  up 
wonderingly  at  his  sudden  j^ause  and  obvious  confusion. 


CHAPTER   X. 

IN    ARKANSAS. 

•Griev"'st  thou  that  hearts  should  change? 

Lo,  where  life  reigueth, 
Or  the  free  sight  dqth  range, 

What  long  remaineth  ? 
Spring  with  her  flowers  doth  die — 
Fast  fades  the  gilded  sky— 
And  the  full  moon  on  high 
Ceaselessly  waneth." 

Anon. 


iSTD  this  is  Arkansas  !"  cries  Fadette. 

On  this  sultry  Christmas  eve,  in  her  light  muslin 
dress,  she  is  standing  at  the  unclosed  window  of  a 
pretty  cottage  parlor.  It  opens  upon  a  gallery  where 
velvet-leaved  woodbine  clambers  up  the  columns  against 
which  the  wild  peach  flings  ever-green  glossy  boughs. 
The  cotton-wood  hard  by  is  rustling  its  large  gray  with- 
ered leaves,  the  few  that  winter  has  left,  with  a  stormy 
sound ;  and  those  locusts  there  without  the  arbored  gate, 
and  the  catalpa  which  grows  within  it,  sway  to  and  fro, 
slender,  pale,  and  naked.  But  the  magnolias,  the  spread- 
ing willow-oaks  there  to  the  left,  and  the  w41d  peach  scat- 
tered in  vivid  verdure  here,  there,  and  everywhere  over 
the  lawn,  have  scarce  felt  the  frosty  touch.  Tlie  straight 
walk  leads  to  the  gate  between  hedges  of  daily  roses  now 
in  full  bloom  for  Christmas  honors.  A  breath  of  violets  is 
wafted  on  the  heavy  air,  from  under  the  crab-apple  tree 
far  to  Fadette's  left,  whence  stretches  the  level  lawn  to 


loi  RANDOLPU  noxon. 

low-rolling  pastures,  rounded  by  the  gleam  of  waters.  On 
the  other  hand,  where  ends  the  lawn,  neat  rows  of  quarter- 
cottages  rise  in  the  grove.  Here,  where  the  trees  cluster 
densely  on  the  edge  of  the  lawn,  and  the  light  fence  curves 
outward  to  the  road,  nestles  a  pagoda-like  lodge  for  guests' 
additional  accommodation.  Beyond  the  low  gate  and  the 
line  of  locusts  to  the  road,  the  grassy  banks  slope  steeply 
to  the  water.  There,  great  oaks  uplift  denuded  branches 
in  delicate  tracery  against  the  sky,  where  long-lingering 
sunset  flushes  change,  and  ciuiver,  and  deepen,  merging  at 
last  into  clouds  that  drift  on  stormily.  Beneath  the  bank 
gleams  the  chute,  sheltered  by  the  low  brown  field-shores 
of  an  island.  Past  the  island's  near  wooded  point,  the 
water  swells  into  a  broad  expanse  of  lake,  its  distant  outer 
rim  level-bound,  in  the  semicircular  sweep  of  twelve  or  fif- 
teen miles,  by  that  low  purple-gray  line  of  woodland,  the 
white-streaked  road,  and  sere  fields  with  alternating  light 
and  shade  of  rude  worm-fences.  Tlie  chute  as  yet  lies 
tranquil,  only  now  and  then  stu'ring,  awakened  by  a  lower 
gust  of  wind.  But  the  lake  already  rises  in  green  waves, 
foam-crested  against  the  coming  storm. 

"This  is  Arkansas."  Ruthven  Erie  tossed  aside  the 
paper  he  had  scarcely  been  reading  in  the  twilight,  and 
came  to  her  side. 

"  See  the  innocent  white-dove  cloud  swallowed  up  by  that 
great  black  cormorant,"  he  said.  "  We  shall  have  a  grand 
Christmas  celebration  of  thunder-storm  ere  long.  Our  poor 
little  Janet  will  be  quite  unhappy  about  her  friend,  Kriss 
Kringle.  She  assured  '  Cousin  Ru'  this  morning  that  she 
did  not  believe  a  word  about  his  riding  through  the  air  on 
his  deer,  because  her  fawn  could  not  fly  at  all.  Therefore, 
she  was  determined  to  watch  the  boats  all  day,  to  see  him 
cross  the  lake." 

"  A  thunder-storm  I    Oh,  Mr.  Erie  I" 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  105 

"  Afraid  of  them  ?  and  sliivering.  Come  away  from  tlie 
window — that  fire  is  only  briglit,  not  warm.  So — I  resign 
the  armchair  in  your  favor,  and  will  listen  quite  humbly 
at  your  feet  Avhile  you  shall  explain  the  dangers  of  tliose 
dread  thunderbolts,  the  mere  mention  of  which  has  dashed 
the  color  from  your  face.  That  is,  if  you  have  not  taken 
the  vow  of  silence,  as  might  appear  from  your  mysterious 
conduct  of  the  last  hour." 

"  No,  I  won't  dispossess  you  of  your  throne,"  she  replied, 
wheeling  away  the  easy-chair  and  drawing  a  low  seat  be- 
fore the  cheerful  hearth.  "  As  for  sitting  at  any  one's  feet, 
I  cannot  imagine  you  in  that  predicament." 

"  Six  feet  two  before  your  two  tiny  ones.  Would  you 
consider  them  worth  the  raising  up  ?"  he  asked,  throwing 
himself  into  the  rejected  chair,  and  puffing  aw^ay  at  the 
cigar  w^hich  he  had  lighted  with  her  gracious  permission. 

"  Stoop  to  conquer.  Sir,  I  never  would." 

"  But  if  you  fly  at  the  sun,  mocking-bird,"  he  said  lightly, 
"  the  chances  are  your  eyes  are  dazzled,  and  you  beat  your 
poor  little  wings  against  some  narrow  garret  window,  glit- 
tering in  the  reflection." 

"  I  am  content  to  wait  the  svm's  good  pleasure  in  seeking 
my  lowly  nest.  If  he  come,  good.  If  he  come  not,  why, 
good  too.     I'll  not  pine." 

"  Not  you.  You'll  flit  at  the  call  of  some  glitterless 
plucked  biped — you'll  flutter  about  and  build  your  nest  and 
twitter  away,  forgetting  song  and  aspirations." 

She  bent  her  head  in  mocking  acquiescence,  and  sat  on  in 
silence.  The  flickering  firelight  threw  her  delicate  profile 
into  relief  against  the  white  marble.  Waving  hair  rolled 
back  from  the  temples,  where  blue  veins  traced  themselves 
beneath  the  transparent  brunette  hue.  Eyes  veiled  by  long 
curved  lashes  were  fixed  dreamily  upon  the  fire,  and  around 
the  small  mouth  hovered  an  unconscious  smile. 


106  BAXDOLPII  IIOXOB. 

He  was  leaning  back,  and  his  right  hand,  holding  tho 
neglected  cigar,  hung  lightly  over  the  arm  of  his  chair. 
Despite  its  slenderness,  its  whiteness,  and  rose-tinted  palm, 
there  was  that  about  the  hand  instinct  with  the  poAver  of 
the  man.  Idle  and  careless  now,  upon  occasion  it  could 
grip,  and  that  firmly.  A  fitting  servant  of  the  cool  keen 
eyes  reading  Fadette's  fiice  so  searchinglv. 

"  And  a  i^ropos  of  thunderbolts,"  he  reminded,  as  a  low 
distant  roll  broke  upon  the  stillness,  and  Fadette  started. 

"  Mr.  Erie,  you  are  laughing  at  me,"  she  said,  her  eyes 
filling  and  her  lip  trembling. 

"  Laughing  ?  Xot  I.  A  tear  ?"  and  he  leaned  forward, 
gently  intercej^ting  the  hand  which  would  have  brushed 
stealthily  away  the  unbidden  tell-tale.  "Xay,  why  will 
you  distrust  me  ?" 

She  glanced  up  at  him  timidly.  Then  with  a  sudden  im- 
pulse she  laid  her  other  hand  upon  that  which  he  still  held 
in  his  firm  grasp. 

Her  gaze  was  downcast,  and  she  did  not  see,  as  she  with- 
drew her  hands  and  folded  them  contentedly  upon  her  knee, 
how  his  brow  flushed,  and  he  drew  a  hard  breath  to  keep 
back  some  words  that  were  clamoring  for  utterance. 

"  I  know  you  will  not  laugh  at  me  now,"  she  said  simply; 
"  I  know  you  will  be  sorry  for  me  when  I  tell  you  what 
scenes  every  thunder-storm  brings  before  my  mind." 

And  she  began  the  story  of  that  night  at  Randolph 
Honor — of  the  arrest,  the  captivity,  the  escape  which  she 
had  planned  for  another.  Her  voice  grew  cold  there,  and 
she  spoke  sneeringly  of  the  selfish  blindness  of  the  stranger 
— bitterly  of  his  escape — scoflingly  of  his  ofier  to  return 
and  deliver  himself  up  to  the  enemy. 

At  first  he  had  given  her  words  of  sympathy  from  time 
to  time.     Xow,  when  she  ended,  he  said  slowly : 

"  It  were  better  for  him  had  he  never  been  born." 


RANDOLPH  nONOR.  107 

She  lifted  her  head. 

"There  it  is  again,  tliat  puzzling  likeness,"  she  cried 
eagerly.  "Mr.  Erie,  who  can  it  he  you  so  much  resemble? 
That  expression  haunts  me.  And  what  troubles  you  ?  A 
song  for  your  thoughts,  if  you  care  for  one." 

"  I  do,  indeed,"  he  replied  in  his  wonted  manner ;  "  but  I 
cannot  let  my  valuable  thoughts  go  for  a  mere  song." 

"  Oh,  very  well,  I've  named  my  price ;"  and  she  resumed 
her  old  posture,  first  flashing  an  arch  glance  upon  him. 

"  Are  you  not  going  to  sing  for  me  ?"  he  inquired,  after 
a  moment  spent  in  relighting  his  cigar. 

She  made  no  answer ;  and  when  she  spoke  again  it  was 
on  an  irrelevant  subject. 

"  I  do  think,  Mr.  Erie,  that  Miss  Yaughan,  who  called  upon 
us  this  morning,  is  the  most  beautiful  woman  I  ever  saw." 

"Decidedly  so." 

"  Such  magnificent  dark  eyes.  Every  feature  so  faultless. 
Not  faultily  faultless  either,  for  her  face  has  depths,  or  per- 
haps I  should  say  heights,  of  expression  I  never  saw  in  any 
face  before.  And  an  exquisite  figure — I'd  give  the  world 
to  be  as  tall.     An  Italian  princess." 

"  Indian,  rather.     She  claims  the  blood  of  Pocahontas." 

"  Really  ?" 

"Really.  Did  you  not  hear  me  address  her  by  that 
heroine's  name,  Matoaca  ?" 

"  You  have  known  her  long,  then  ?" 

'^We  are  friends  of  years'  standing, — ever  since  I  bought 
this  place,  seven  years  ago." 

"  Has  she  been  grown  up  all  that  time  ?"  she  asked. 

"  All  that  time ;  which  has  developed  her  from  a  girl  of 
eighteen  into  a  perfect  woman. 

"And  how  long  since  you  last  saw  her?"  she  inquired 
next,  inly  blushing  again  for  her  seventeen  years. 

"Since  the  early  summer,"  he  replied, 


108  RANDOLPH  HONOB. 

She  cast  a  hiimecl  glance  upon  liim  as  he  reached  forth 
his  hand,  filliping  the  ashes  from  his  cigar.  And  when  he 
turned  to  her  again,  she  pushed  back  her  chair  ^ith  an  im- 
patient movement,  and  went  away  to  the  piano,  murmuring 
something  about  that  fire  being  enough  to  burn  one  up. 

And  iiKleed  she  was  flushed  to  the  temples. 

"  Mr.  Erie,"  she  began,  after  a  short  silence,  filled  up  by- 
rapid  marches  and  energetic  waltzes,  "  do  all  those  people 
live  together  ?" 

"All  what  people.  Miss  Sphynx?" 

"Oh,  that  odious  little  Grahame  concern:  you  know 
w^hom  I  mean,"  she  returned  impatiently. 

"Miss  Grahame,  courteous  one?  She,  her  cousin  Mr. 
Grahame,  his  niece  Miss  Yaughan — no  relative  of  hers, 
however — and  his  daughter-in-law,  whom  you  have  not  yet 
seen,  and  whose  husband  is  in  Virginia,  all  reside  in  the 
famous  '  Sleepy  Hollow,'  as  Miss  Matoaca  has  it.  Proceed 
in  your  cross-examination :  I  will  e'en  unfold  all  the  gossip 
of  the  country  as  it  was  of  old." 

He  came  and  leaned  Avith  folded  arms  on  the  piano. 

She  kept  up  a  restless  accompaniment  to  her  words  as 
she  asked : 

"  Is  '  Sleepy  Hollow' — it  must  be  a  very  stupid  place — 
far  ofi"?" 

"  Twenty  miles — quite  a  visitable  Arkansas  distance.  A 
constant  visitor  there,  I  never  found  '  Sleepy  Hollow'  weari- 
some with  Matoaca  Vaughan.  To  her  ennobling  influence," 
he  went  on  warmly,  "  I  owe  more  than  words  can  measure. 
Evil  shrinks  abashed  from  her  presence.  For  her  mind,  it 
is  of  the  highest  order — deep,  yet  brilliant." 

".So  icily  cold,  those  brilliant  people!"  she  interrupted 
with  a  shiver. 

. "  Upon  the  surface  only,"  he  returned,  surprised  at  the 
unaccountable  dislike  she  had  conceived  for  his  friend. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  109 

She  hcnt  over  a  music-book,  seeking  a  song  which  he  re- 
quested. 

This  Matoaca  Vaughan,  then,  was  she  whom  he  must 
climb  to  win.  To  his  words  now  those  of  an  evening  in 
Charleston  came  with  "  confirmation  strong  as  proof  from 
Holy  Writ."  This  was  the  lofty  fruit  wliich  would  fall  at 
nobody's  feet,  seen  last  summer — brunette— certainly  not 
green. 

Hitherto  she  had  in  her  own  mind  called  his  avowal  "  the 
fable  of  the  grapes,"  and  noAV  she  felt  aggrieved,  as  though 
he  had  deceived  her.  But  what  were  his  grapes  to  her,  at 
all  eventST— "  Hecuba  to  him,  or  he  to  Hecuba  ?" 

So  she  pressed  open  the  leaves  of  the  book  upon  the 
piano. 

"Our  singing-bird  is  aweary,"  he  said  gently,  as  she 
faltered  on  a  note,  and  pushed  back  her  stool. 

"  Then  let  her  fly,  Ruthven,"  answered  Amy,  who  at  that 
moment  had  thrown  open  the  library  door  unobserved. 
"  Have  you  forgot,  sweet  coz,  the  event  of  the  Christmas 
holidays — the  double  wedding  and  grand  ball  for  which  you 
w^ere  making  such  elaborate  preparations  yesterday  ?  AVould 
you  believe  it,  Ruthven,  she  has  decked  out  Penelope  and 
Janet  (the  dusky)  in  w^hite  muslin  and  blue  flowers,  to  say 
nothing  of  Irene's  resplendency.  Irene  is  one  of  the  brides, 
you  know.  Is  not  that  flying  in  the  face  of  the  catechism 
with  all  the  pomps  and  vanities  ?  But  come,  the  wedding- 
party  is  assembling,  and  Mr.  Smith  has  arrived.  After  the 
marriage  we  will  go  down  for  a  moment  to  the  quarter,  and 
look  on  at  the  dance.  We  have  had  a  delegation  with  in- 
vitations, and  my  little  sister  is  perfectly  wild.  You  know 
we  were  not  on  our  plantation  last  Christmas,  and  her 
memory  goes  no  further  back." 

The  library  was  quite  brilliant  as  the  trio  entered.  Large 
lamps  threw  a  softening  radiance  upon  the  octagonal  walls, 


]  10  nAXDOLPR  Hoxon. 

with  their  grotesqiit4y-carven  wahmt  book-shelves,  and 
upon  the  crimson  hangings  of  the  bow-window  opening  to 
the  lawn.  Kutlivens  and  Erles  love-locked ;  cavaliers  in 
time-dimmed  armor;  fayre  shej^lierdess  in  blue  satin  and 
silver-broidered  tunic ;  a  judge  in  gown  and  full-bottomed 
wig;  venerable  clergyman  in  band  and  cassock;  Revolu- 
tionary officer  with  brilliant  uniform  and  shining  sword ; 
these  looked  down  upon  this  other  assemblage.  Mr.  Smith, 
the  Baptist  minister  (the  plantation  negroes  were  generally 
Baptists)  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  apartment,  and  before 
him  the  affianced  four,  with  their  quartette  of  bridemaids 
in  a  line  on  the  left  hand,  and  groomsmen  on  the  right,  all 
arrayed  in  white.  The  low  bodies  and  short  sleeves  of  the 
girls,  and  the  brides'  white  veils  and  small  head-dress,  like 
white-wreathed  caps,  set  off  strangely  enough  the  "ebon 
imao-e."  In  the  doorways  and  lower  end  of  the  room 
thronged  bright  dresses  of  every  style  and  description, 
from  silks  and  muslins  to  gay-patterned  calicoes.  The  men 
frequently  sported  cast-off  dress-coats  of  their  master's, 
heightened  by  dazzling  vests.  Dark  faces,  large  and  small, 
seemed  somewhat  sombre  in  their  gravity,  as  all  expression- 
less staring  faces  must  when  unlighted  by  color.  But  now 
they  were  all  gleaming  teeth  and  smiles,  as,  the  short  cere- 
mony over,  the  newly-married  pairs  bridled  up  to  the  win- 
dow where  stood  the  "white  folks,"  and  dropped  their 
courtesies,  and  shook  hands  with  Marster  and  Mistis,  Mars' 
Ruthven  and  our  young  ladies — retiring  in  great  glee  after 
Marster' s  little  jest. 

"  Who  all  dem  strange  folks.  Miss  Amy  ?"  one  of  the 
brides,  a  strapping  field-hand,  stayed  to  whisper  in  passing 
her  young  mistress. 

"  Where,  Yiolet  ?  Don't  you  know  Mars'  Ruthven,  your 
mistress'  nephew,  and  Miss ?" 

"Oh,  ya'p'm,  I  knows  all  our  own  folks;  but  dem  fine 


B.iyDOLPII  IIOXOB.  Ill 

ladies  an'  -ommon  wl.at's  a  sittin'  «p  yo.ulev,  .tariu'  tro' 
dem  --at  ^v^naows  round  de  wall«?  I  curchcyod  to  'cn.al 
^Ly  Wst,  Miss  Amy,  but  doy  done  tuk  no  sort  o'  -tiee  but 
r,t  keep  a  lookin'  at  me  all  de  same.  Shamed  to  speak  to 
;!s  niggers,  I  reckon ;  dey  don't  set  no  store  on  us,  dressed 
up  so  line  deyselves." 

Down  in  the  quarter,  not  a  hundred  yards'  ^-alk  beneatli 
the  oaks  on  the  lake  bank,  there  might  seem  a  tmy  village 
Doors  set  wide  open,  according  to  universal  negro  usage, 
threw  a  blaze  of  ruddy  light  across   ^\&'!'''y  '^'^J^^^ 
closed  in  by  double  cabins  with  neat  galleries.     In  that 
fether  cabin,  neatly  swept  and  garnished,  -s  sp. J    a 
loner  table,  where  stood,  waiting  the  good  pleasu,e  of   he 
dancers  the  viands  Mrs.  Rutledge  had  given  out  from  her 
i<:::i;m  with  no  sparing  hand-hams,  -M  tm-Ueys,  pies^ 
and  cakes  and  candies,  with  abundance  of  coffee.     And  m 
tL  cabin  whence  came  forth  the  ruddiest  ^aze,  when  e 
issued  a  medley  of  fiddle,  triangle,  bones,  and  1>anjo  ^* 
the  measured  stamp  of  the  fiddler,  and  the  clapping  of  by 
standers    keeping    time,   there   were    the   -«^<1  "S^"-'! 
gathered  together.    Grandfathers  and  grannies  with    fiosty 
povs"  or  gorgeous  plaid  turbans,  staring  little  o.ies,  and 
yo^candolSwhoiiad  "got  religion,"  and  therefore  for- 
:orn  music  and  dancing,  pressed  against  Uie  .^    in   le  « 
or  loun..ed   in  windows   or   doorways.      But   the   uneon 
vlrted  ^erionslv  and  steadily  set  themselves  to  dancing 
eh  other  dowl,  with  earnest  eyes  watching  the  swift  lig 
leaps  and  springs  and  turns  of  their  own  clumsi  y-made 
fie    keepincJ  perfect  time  to  the  fiddle,  the  clapping  and 
tl  cSer'l  occasional  snatches  of  song      WonderfiU  the 
circumference  to  which  that  dandy  bridegroom  with  the 
wU  ecrloves,  and  the  rose  in  his  button-hole  has  by  week 
If  striiig-pla  ting  trained  his  brush-heap  of  a  head,  until 


1 1 2  RAXDOLPH  HOXOE. 

the  shininor  black  face,  the  whites  of  his  eyes,  and  the  glit- 
tering wliite  teeth  are  quite  eclipsed  by  its  splendor.  And 
the  puffs  and  frizzles  upholding  the  red-rose  crown  of  his 
opponent,  with  the  wide-spread  hantlkerchief  pinned 
dangling  to  her  side,  are  no  less  admirable  works  of  art, 
precursors  of  this  age  of  waterfall  and  crimpings  d.  la  con- 
trahande.  AYho  boasts  the  greatest  amount  of  finery  is 
the  belle.  But  on  this  occasion  Fadette's  and  Amy's  mu- 
nificence, and  the  equalizing  distribution  from  the  annual 
Christmas-box,  of  ball-dresses,  wreaths,  beads,  white  ker- 
chiefs, and  glowing  vests  and  cravats,  left  little  room  for 
envy.  "  Christmas-gift,  ^Nlarster" — "  Christmas-gift,  Mistis  " 
— "  Mars'  Ruthven" — and  the  young  ladies  separately — had 
been  whispered  by  young  and  old  through  half-opened 
chamber-doors  all  the  early  morning,  and  gifts  thus  forfeited 
had  been  faithfully  paid,  every  trifle  being  received  with 
childlike  rejoicing. 

Xow  the  dance  gave  place  to  games,  still  with  musical 
accom^^animent.  The  best  dancers  were  deep  in  the  wind- 
ings of  "  Peep,  squirrel,  peep,"  and  the  wild  chorus  of  "  Up 
jamboree,  hui,"  lingered  in  Fadette's  ear  as  an  echo  of 
ancient  salvagery,  when  she  went  out  again  on  Mr.  Erie's 
ann. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


"sleepy  hollow. 


"  All  smiles  come  in  such  a  wise, 
Where  tears  shall  fall,  or  have  of  old,— 
Like  northern  lights  that  fill  the  heart 
Of  heaven,  in  sign  of  cold." 

Mrs,  Browning. 

MORNING  in  January.  But  so  genial  its  awak 
ing  smile,  that  Spring,  wont  to  linger  yet  another 
month,  is  beguiled  into  the  belief  that  Winter  has 
a^sfndoned  the  throne  to  her;  and  so  she  steals  across  the 
border  to  occupy  it,  while,  as  her  soft  breath  sighs  joyfully 
over  tree,  and  bush,  and  flower,  they 

"  Audibly  do  bud— and  bud." 

The  red  oaks  yet  fling  bare  boughs  in  wondrous  gray 
tracery  against  the  misty  blue  or  snow-drift  heights  of 
heaven.  Yet  the  breeze  wafts  fragrance  from  violets  scat- 
tered over  the  lawn,  and  mingles  the  fainter  odors  of  the 
rose-hedge,  in  the  pink  depths  of  which  a  twittering  bird  is 
building  where  a  morrow's  frost  may  yet  tear  down  his 
leafy  shelter.  Red  birds  and  blue  flit  from  tree  to  tree, 
while  from  yonder  gnarled  trunk  a  woodpecker,  in  garb  of 
white  and  black,  and  crimson  crest,  keeps  sonorous  rhythm 
with  his  hollow  far-sounding  tap-tap. 

The  lake  is  one  silver  ripple,  save  where  a  white-cap 
flashes  up  one  instant,  and  a  dark  cloud  of  water-fowl  drifts 
past  the  island's  point,  here  and  there  plashing  with  wings 


114  RAXBOLPH  UOXOR. 

Wiiite-lined  as  spray — tranquilly  learned  on  the  war,  so  far 
as  concerns  scarcity  of  ammunition. 

In  the  rolling  pasture  beside  the  lawn  red  cattle  are 
standing  knee-deep  in  the  clear  waters  of  the  slough,  blue 
in  the  reflection  of  warm  skies.  There  the  wide-spreading 
willow-oaks  from  time  to  time  drop  from  their  greenly  yet 
slenderly  foliaged  boughs  a  tiny  leaf,  with  a  rustle  which  is 
heard  through  the  stillness.  A  few  sheep  are  browsing 
through  the  sere  deep  Bermuda  grass,  where  a  dandelion, 
a  white  field-daisy,  golden  tufts  of  wild  chamomile,  crop  up 
in  fairy  rings  of  verdure.  Through  the  bared  oaks  and 
yellow-bunched  berries  of  leafless  China-trees,  blue  threads 
are  curling  upward  from  the  quarter-cabins,  and  melting 
away  into  that  misty  lustre  which,  like  Indian  summer, 
wraps  the  forest  in  purple  haze.  Across  the  lake,  and  across 
a  level  clearing  on  its  further  shores,  that  haze  causes  the 
wooded  banks  and  ridgy  water-willows  beyond  the  Missis- 
sippi to  loom  up  indistinct  and  shadowy,  like  distant  hill- 
ranges.  Through  the  silence  surges  an  almost  leafless 
Cottonwood  upon  the  lawn,  with  a  murmur  as  of  distant 
seas. 

Before  the  gate  waited  an  open  carriage.  Fadette  and 
Amy  were  already  seated  in  it,  and  3Ir.  Rutledge  stood 
near,  giving  orders  to  a  servant,  and  now  casting  an  impa- 
tient glance  toward  the  gate.  Thence  presently  sauntered 
Ruthven  Erie,  leisurely  drawing  on  his  riding-gloves. 

"  Well,  of  all  provoking  men" — the  girls  began  in  a 
breath. 

"-'Where  is  the  woman?'  Behold  her,"  he  rejoined, 
turning  and  nodding  as  Mrs.  Rutledge  appeared  on  the 
gallery,  calling  after  him,  as  a  last  word,  "  Xow,  Ruthven, 
do  remember  what  I  have  said,  and  drive  carefully." 

"  Consider  me  lectured  and  repentant,  young  ladies,"  he 
went  on,  advancing  to  the  carriage.     "  But  what  is  this  ? 


RANDOLrn  HONOR.  \  ]  5 

'Twill  never  do.  I  cannot  possibly  drive  these  fiery  steeds 
all  by  my  lone  self." 

"  Uncle  Rutledge,  Mr.  Erie,  offers  you  the  appointment 
of  whip,"  called  out  Fadette. 

IMr.  Erie  sprang  up  to  his  place ;  then,  as  Mr.  Rutledge 
drew  near,  held  out  his  hand  to  Fadette. 

"  Amy  can  do  as  she  likes.  I  am  far  too  comfortable  to 
move,"  Fadette  said,  after  pretending  not  to  observe  the 
invitation,  until  it  was  emphasized  by  a  rather  imperative 
"  Come." 

"  Amy  won't  do.     Come,"  and  he  still  held  but  his  hand. 

She  took  the  seat  beside  him,  saying,  with  some  vex- 
ation : 

"  I  do  assure  you,  if  it  Avere  not  for  detaining  Uncle  Rut- 
ledge, I  should  not." 

"  Sex  to  the  life,"  he  returned  gayly.  "  Probably  you 
have  learned  from  that  Latin  book — w^hat  was  it  ? — gram- 
mar ? — reader  ? — you  so  dexterously  hid  from  me  the  other 
day — the  origin  of  this  animal's  name."  For,  while  speak- 
ing, he  was  occupied  in  controlling  with  a  strong  hand  one 
of  the  carriage  mules  obstinately  bent  upon  trotting  off  in 
the  wrong  direction.  "  There,"  he  continued,  as  the  animal 
at  length  yielded,  and  sped  wath  a  will  doAvn  the  road, 
"  you  see  also  why,  the  quadruped  being  so  much  the  more 
tractable,  he  is  lessened  from  the  comparative  to  the  posi- 
tive degree." 

*'  Well  for  the  muUer  that  she  has  the  advantage,"  Fa- 
dette laughed. 

"  Not  at  all.  A  mere  question  of  time.  A  firm  hand,  a 
keen  eye,  and — " 

"The  blind  god  out  of  the  question,"  she  interposed 
quickly. 

"  Blindness  out  of  the  question,  assuredly.  Would  you 
be  loved  for  what  you  are  not,  or  for  what  you  are  ?" 


116  RANDOLPH  UOXOR. 

She  looked  down,  and  the  color  wavered  in  her  cheek,  as 
she  replied : 

"  I — I  would  be  loved.  For  what  I  am,  if  that  be  possi- 
ble. But  no  one  ever  loved  me,  Mr.  Erie,  who  clearly  saw 
my  faults." 

"  You  keep  them  so  under  control,"  he  said,  ironically. 

"  You  know  I  did  not  mean  that.  But  to  ray  guardian^ 
they  are  pretty  child-ways.  Aunt  Randolph  looks  up  to 
me  as  to  a  miracle  of  wisdom  and  strength  ;  Li — Tom — 
thinks  me  an  angel." 

"  And  your  later  friends  ?" 

"  My  uncle,*'  she  answered,  sinking  her  voice  yet  lower, 
*'  sees  not  me  but  his  pet  sister,  my  mother,  whom  they  say 
I  strongly  resemble  in  appearance.  Amy  gives  me  all  the 
characteristics  her  own  gentle  heart  supplies.  Aunt  Rut- 
ledge  sees  my  faults,  and  I  don't  think  loves  me  very  much, 
although  she  is  very  kind." 

"  You  have  omitted  one." 

"  You — understand  me  thoroughly,  Mr.  Erie." 

She  spoke  in  a  stifled  tone,  and  averted  her  head,  ab- 
sorbed in  the  evolutions  of  the  woim-fence  which  formed  a 
running  accompaniment  to  the  swift  motion  of  the  carriage. 

A  strange  smile  hovered  around  his  mouth,  as  he  bent 
forward,  arranging  the  reins. 

"  So  you  think — "  he  began. 

But  to  no  listener.  Fadette  had  turned  quite  away,  and 
was  chatting  gayly  with  Mr.  Rutledge  and  Amy  upon  the 
subject  of  Sleepy  Hollow,  whither  they  were  bound. 

They  skirt  the  lake,  with  its  level  cultivated  island, 
fringed  at  the  point  by  a  grove  of  oaks,  beneath  which, 
cattle  range  among  the  green  and  brown  and  yellow-tinted 
bushes  dipping  in  the  water.  Bordering  the  road  lie  fields 
where  the  shrivelled  cotton-plant  yet  flings  out  here  and 
there  a  remnant  of  its  snowy  bolls,  and  where  negroes  are 


RANDOLPH  IIOyOR.  117 

busy  with  stick  and  hoe,  beating  down  tlie  stalks  and  gath- 
ering them  in  heaps  for  the  burning.  At  noontide  tliey 
lounge  beneath  the  trees  at  dinner,  which  those  sturdy 
urchins,  gaping  round,  have  brought  from  the  family 
kitchen  of  the  quarter.  Here  are  four  or  five  mothers  re- 
turning from  a  visit  to  their  children,  left  daily  in  the  quar- 
ter in  charge  of  the  nurse.  And  as  the  carriage  passes, 
the  servants  form  two  dusky  lines  of  greeting  and  staring, 
with  pulling  of  hats  and  head-handkerchiefs,  and  bobbing 
of  courtesies  to  all  white  passers-by,  exclusive  of  "poor 
white  trash,"  whom  they  hold  in  sovereign  contempt. 

Behind,  across  a  half-cleared  field  of  decaying  stumps, 
blackened  trunks,  and  gaunt,  white-girdled,  well-nigh 
branchless  trees,  where  a  dozen  woodpeckers  are  tapping, 
sweeps  the  even  line  of  woodland,  blue-gray  and  purple- 
brown,  with  here  a  shining  glimpse  of  green,  and  there  a 
blaze  of  yellow  or  of  red — white  line  of  deadened  timber, 
or  black-burnt  pillar.  The  sunlight  falls  but  dimly  through 
the  interlacing  boughs,  although  only  at  invervals  there  is 
verdant  foliage.  Massive  vines  coil  their  serpent-length 
aloft.  Heavy  Spanish  moss,  trailing  down,  a  yard  in 
length,  or  festooned  from  tree  to  tree,  its  silver-gray  dark- 
ening in  denseness,  heightens  the  weird  aspect  of  gigantic 
cypresses.  These  rise  from  the  black  earth  like  so  many 
sapling  stems,  close-welded  together,  and  sloping  inward 
to  a  pale  shaft,  which  rears  itself  straight  up  with  branches 
leafed  by  tufts  of  fringy  brown. 

"Oh,  now  I  begin  to  believe  in  Arkansas,"  exclaimed 
Fadette,  turning  again  to  Mr.  Erie.  "This  is  charming. 
Only  look  at  that  tree  !"  and  she  quoted  softly,  as  if  to  her- 
self— 

" '  —  The  forest  primeval.     The  murmuring  pines  and  the  hemlocks, 
Bearded  with  moss,  and  in  garments  green,  indistinct  in  the  twi- 
light, 


118  RAXDOLPH  IIOXOR. 

Stand  like  Druids  of  eld,  with  voices  sad  and  prophetic, 
Stand  like  harpers  hoar,  Avith  beards  that  rest  on  then-  bosoms.' 

"  But  I  see  no  pines.     Do  they  not  grow  here  ?" 

"  Unknown  to  the  Mississippi  swamp,  so  called.  Cypresses 
here  take  the  place  of  pines,  scattered  among  Cottonwood, 
hackbeny,  pecan,  oak,  gum,  and  a  few  other  forest  varieties. 
Those  are  cypresses,"  he  added,  pointing  with  his  whip. 

"Dismal  enough,  in  all  conscience.  But  what  are  those 
nondescript  things  standing  up  so  thickly  among  them? 
Neither  stumps  nor  posts,  although  they  resemble  the  latter. 
There  is  one  almost  as  tall  as  the  mules." 

"Those  are  cypress-knees,  jutting  up  from  the  roots; 
and  there  is  a  cypress-well,  that  low  stump  sloping  outward 
on  the  ground.  See  the  black  water  gleaming  far  within. 
They  are  almost  fathomless,  and  sometimes  large  enough  to 
engulf  unwary  horse  and  rider.     Look  at  those  yines." 

"  How  beautiful !  They  make  the  trunks  of  the  leafless 
trees  one  living  mass  of  green ;  and  the  mistletoe,  almost 
lilce  foliage  on  that  oak.  If  it  were  not  for  those,  and  the 
fi-equent  showers  of  scarlet  berries,  the  woods  would  be 
sombre  indeed,  so  curtained  in  by  their  funereal  moss.  But, 
Mr.  Erie,  what  is  the  meaning  of  that  dark  line  running  all 
along  the  trunks  of  the  trees,  five  or  six  feet  from  the 
ground  ?" 

"High-water  mark.  "When  I  travelled  this  road  last 
spring,  I  floated  in  a  dug-out  right  over  the  top  of  this  car- 
riage. '  What  is  a  dug-out  ?'  Why,  if  you  had  but  a  vein 
of  Miss  Vaughan's  Indian  blood,  you  would  know  intui- 
tively. A  hollow  log,  paddled  like  a  canoe,  with  a  pro- 
clivity for  oversetting  on  the  least  provocation.  But  here 
is  your  prototype,  reasserting  himself.     Are  you  not  whip  ?" 

Fadette  laughed,  and,  submissive  to  the  not  altogether 
moral  suasion  of  their  two  drivers,  the  mules  mended  their 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  119 

pace,  proceeding  so  rapidly,  unmindful  of  stumps,  mud- 
holes,  and  corduroy  patches,  that  Amy  more  than  once 
cried  out,  reminding  the  cousins  both  that  it  was  still  need- 
ful to  "  have  Charon  crossing  the  Styx." 

Upon  a  mound,  in  a  clearing  where  the  sun  basked  warmly 
down,  was  served  the  picnic  dinner, — Amy  and  Fadette 
being  in  blissful  ignorance,  imtil  the  provision-basket  waxed 
low,  that  their  convenient  salle-d-tnanger  was  an  old  Indian 
burial-ground. 

Kow  out  of  the  woods,  and  along  the  river-bank.  There 
the  broad  levee,  its  grassy  covering  foded  to  a  yellow  brown, 
^ses  like  a  wall,  yielding  narrowed  glimpses  of  the  Father 
of  Waters,  and  his  steep  wooded  or  sand-barred  banks. 
Anon  into  the  woods  again.  And  as  twilight  closed  in,  the 
carriage  emerged  beside  the  willow-fringed  lake  and  hom-e- 
euclosures  of  "  Sleepy  Hollow." 

The  tall  slender  green  cane  which  skirts  the  road  through 
the  woods,  stops  yonder  at  the  boundary  of  the  broad  cot- 
ton-field. There  blaze  fires  in  rows,  lighting  up  duLky 
figures  in  white  cottonade,  who  feed  them  with  the  cotton- 
stalks,  and  ward  off  the  flames  from  the  high  worm  tence 
upon  the  road.  Here  and  there  a  deadened  tree,  a  column 
of  fire,  glows,  and  sparkles,  and  falls,  tossing  off  branch  by 
branch,  or  leaving  constellations  of  red  stars  upon  the  mid- 
night blackness  of  its  charred  and  ruined  trunk.  And  now 
the  field-hands  wend  leisurely  home  to  the  quarter,  dimly 
seen  upon  the  lake,  in  that  clump  of  oaks  in  the  bend  be- 
yond the  house.  Contented  and  careless,  they  pass  on, 
whistling  or  chorusing  as  they  go,  chatting  gayly  on  foot  or 
in  that  wagon  which  lumbers  by,  returning  from  the  corn- 
crib. 

Sleepy  Hollow  indeed  it  is,  despite  the  sounds  of  life  and 
wakefulness.  Behind  the  home-grounds  stretch  vast  rich 
fields,  but  beyond,  at  every  point,  close  in  the  forest  soli- 


120  RANDOLPH  HOyOR. 

tildes.  Willo^vs  and  oaks  dip  on  this  side  into  the  little 
oval  lake.  And  oitt  into  the  middle  of  the  water,  on  the 
opposite  shallow  shore,  straggle  and  push,  waist-deep,  whole 
closely-standing  lines  of  cypress  and  willow,  veiling  the 
woods  beyond  with  dense  draperies  of  moss.  Midway 
upon  the  cleared  shore  of  the  lake  nestles  the  homestead. 
Oaks,  pecans,  and  china-trees  shut  in  the  broad  circular 
sweep  of  lawn,  its  shrubberies  and  flowers  scattered  as  if 
by  Nature's  hand;  and  in  the  stillness,  hither  comes  the 
distant  hooting  of  an  owl,  or  the  heavy  flight  of  a  white  or 
blue  winged  crane,  disturbed  from  its  perch  in  the  trees 
alonor  the  lake. 

White  walls  now  gleam  between  forest-trees  overshadow- 
ing. And,  the  carriage-sweep  made,  Fadette  has  time, 
while  Mr.  Rutledge  and  Amy  alight,  to  take  a  general  sur- 
vey of  the  house.  It  is  of  frame,  high  red-brick  chimneys 
running  up  on  the  outside,  of  one  story,  with  broad  front 
and  galleries  extending  round.  Front  door  there  is  none, 
the  "  hall"  being  a  wide-roofed  open  space,  connecting  two 
otherwise  separate  buildings.  Sofa,  table,  and  rocking- 
chairs  here  testify  to  its  being  a  place  of  social  assembling, 
although  this  evening  the  wind  blows  too  freshly,  and  lights 
through  the  crimson-curtained  parlor-windows  cheerfully 
second  the  cordial  reception  extended  to  the  guests  at  the 
carriage  by  Mr.  Grahame,  and  on  the  gallery  by  his  niece. 

Those  crimson  curtains  swept  down,  over  w^indows  open- 
ing to  the  gallery,  upon  a  handsome  carpet  gay  with  bou- 
quets of  roses.  The  walls  were  merely  white-painted 
wooden  panels,  yet  a  fine  portrait  in  oils  or  a  valuable 
engraving  relieved  their  bareness,  and  from  the  high 
wooden  roof,  where  a  beam  crossed,  depended  a  massive 
bronze  chandelier. 

The  huge  fireplace,  in  which  a  light-wood  fire  blazed  and 


RANDOLPH  HOXOB.  121 

crackled  merrily  away,  filled  nearly  one  end  of  the  apart- 
ment, and  it  was  before  it  that  Fadette,  rising  from  tho 
grand  piano,  seated  herself  just  within  the  group  round  tho 
centre-table. 

For  a  moment  she  observed  them  uninterruptedly.  Or 
rather,  she  observed  Matoaca  Yaughan,  for  further  than 
that  glorious  beauty  she  could  not  at  once  range.  Miss 
Yaughan  was  deep  in  conversation  with  Mr.  Rutledge, 
who  listened  with  that  spontaneous,  chivalrous  deference 
which  marked  his  birth  and  breeding.  And  well  indeed 
might  Miss  Yaughan  command  deference.  Fadette  thought, 
as  she  looked  at  her,  stately  and  regally  radiant,  "The 
shadow  of  a  monarch's  crown  is  softened  in  her  hair," — and 
wondered  if  it  were  possible  for  one  to  behold,  nor  do  her 
homage.  Not  for  Ruthven  Erie,  evidently.  That  was  a 
most  admiring  glance  Fadette  intercepted,  as  he  moved 
restlessly  in  the  midst  of  a  somew^hat  one-sided  colloquy,  in 
which  Miss  Grahame  still  detained  him. 

Fair  Amy  cooed  away  like  a  white  dove  to  Mr.  Grahame. 
Ilis  questions  had  opened  the  flood-gates  of  Carolina  mem- 
ories, and  they  flowed  softly  through  her  speech,  she  the 
while  almost  oblivious  of  time  and  place  and  auditor.  Fa- 
dette caught  her  far-away  gaze,  as  the  tiny  hands  dropped 
clasped  upon  her  knee.  And  she  divined  that  the  pink 
flush  flitting  over  the  up-turned  face,  rose  because  at  the 
mention  of  some  well-known  haunt  came  back  a  moment 
when  she  had  stood  there  with  the  lover-lmsband  of  an 
hour. 

Amy's  interlocutor  saw  less,  with  those  sharp  gray  eyes. 
He  was  more  interested  in  the  number  of  redoubts  on  Mor- 
ris Island  than  in  any  one  engineer  who  had  helped  to 
build  them.  He  hurried  from  the  one  regiment  volunteer- 
ing thence  to  Yirginia,  to  the  more  important  question  of 
the  number  remaining  for  the  defence  of  the  city. 


122  RANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

Fadette,  as  she  watched  and  compared  Amy  to  tlie  white 
dove,  thought  that  were  Circe's  court  held  on  the  shores  of 
Willow  Lake,  Amy's  companion  need  undergo  but  slight 
change,  perched  before  her  as  he  was,  "  the  lean  and  slip- 
pered pantaloon"  d^^dndling  not  overmuch,  and  the  hooked 
nose  scarce  changing  into  a  beak,  while  the  wiry  little 
bowed  figure  in  gray  might  require  no  vast  stretch  of 
magic  to  become  a  quick,  ruffled,  intelligent  gray  parrot. 
A  preternaturally  intelligent  parrot,  without  doubt.  But 
still  a  parrot  in  his  short,  shai-p  enunciations  of  ancient 
teachings — sapient  certainly,  but  never  Aarying  from  the 
wonted  groove.  And  still  a  parrot  in  his  pretty-poll  proud 
survey  of  himself  when  they  are  spoken — in  his  ruffled  im- 
patience and  reiterations,  if  for  a  moment  unattended. 

Fadette  glanced  across  where  sat  Miss  Grahame,  ttte- 
d-tcte  with  Mr.  Erie.  The  mark  of  species  was  strong  there, 
truly.  Circe  could  have  made  nothing  but  a  parrot  of  her. 
A  dwindled  type — dwindled  nose — diluted  eyes — diluted 
chatter,  which  adverted  to  little  beyond  the  pretty-poll. 
And  was  poll  pretty  ?  Perhaps.  But  the  plumage  was  so 
beruffled  Avith  her  strut  mental,  moral,  and  corporeal,  that 
beyond  "  fuss  and  feather,"  vision  could  hardly  go. 

And  Ruthven  Erie  ?  Were  the  disguise  of  humanity 
cast  aside,  how  would  his  true  nature  stand  revealed  ?  The 
calm,  clear  eagle-eye — yet  no  power  of  imagination  could 
convert  into  talons  that  ^firm  shapely  hand,  which  thrusts 
back  noAv  the  Avave  of  fair  hair  that  will  always  droop 
upon  his  brow  when  his  head  is  bent  in  thought.  And  of 
what  is  he  thinking?  Xot  of  !Miss  Grahame's  words, 
surely.  But  Circe  drops  her  wand.  Fadette  cannot  im- 
agine him  in  any  enchantress's  power,  charm  she  ncA^er  so 
wisely. 

Gradually  the  conversation  became  general,  wandering 
from  the  slender  war-news  of  the  day  to  matters  of  planta- 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  123 

tioii  interest — cotton  and  its  sovereignty — the  accustomed 
dependence  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  for  supplies  upon  the 
Northwest — the  filial  love,  as  Mr.  Rutledge  defined  it,  of 
the  sons  of  Ham  for  salt  pork — levees — 

"  By  the  way,  speaking  of  levees,"  said  Ruthven  Erie, 
abruptly  breaking  off  his  tete-d-ttte^  "  how  wags  the  world 
with  old-man  Goodfellow  ?  Levees  recall  my  last  conver- 
sation with  him,  when  he  was  down  wdth  a  vengeance  upon 
*  levee  counteractors' — a  good  though  unwitting  rendering 
of  contractors." 

"  I  am  glad  you  reminded  me,"  said  Miss  Yaughan ;  then 
addressing  herself  to  Mr.  Rutledge,  added — "Mr.  Good- 
fellow,  old-man  Goodfellow,  as  he  calls  himself,  is  our  coun- 
ty character,  Sir.  We  have  an  invitation  for  to-morrow 
evening  at  his  jDlantation  on  the  bayou,  and  if  you-  are 
curious  respecting  backwoods  festivities,  I  can  promise  a 
hearty  welcome.  Though  very  plain,  he  is  greatly  respect- 
ed, and  we  have  always  kept  up  a  friendly  sort  of  neigh- 
borhood intercourse." 

"  Oh,  do  let  us  go,"  cried  Fadette,  springing  up,  and  lay- 
ing an  eager  hand  on  her  uncle's  shoulder. 

"  My  old  friend.  Miss  Charley — old  enemy,  I  should  have 
said — still  unmarried?"  Ruthven  Erie  asked,  when  Miss 
Yaughan's  plan  had  been  cordially  assented  to. 

"  Can  you  doubt  it  ?  Or  imagine  her  condescending  to 
marry  any  man  upon  earth  ?"  returned  Miss  Yaughan. 

"Hardly.  You  must  know  her,  Amy — Miss  Charles 
Anne  Goodfellow.  Then  would  extremes  meet,  you  deli- 
cate model  of  womanhood.  A  manly  creature,  manner, 
voice,  height,  mind.  Yery  handsome  withal.  A  man  in 
all  things,  save  her  supreme  contempt  for  our  sex." 

"  You  forget  her  housekeeping  attainments,"  suggested 
Miss  Yaughan. 

"  Is  she  eclucated  ?"  Amy  inquired. 


124  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

"In  a  Kentucky  conve;i//o;?,  her  father  says.  I  wonder 
the  nuns  admitted  her."  . 

"  Is  she  a  lady  ?"  Fadette  asked ;  then  bUished,  aware 
that  the  question  was  not  .over-polite. 

"  She  is  Charley  Goodfellow,  sui  generis^''  3Iiss  Yaughan 
answered,  kindly  coming  to  her  relief;  "  and  so  exceptional 
is  the  genus,  that  I  believe  you  will  not  once  think  of  seek- 
ing mannerism  refinement.  The  father  is  an  extremely 
plain  man,  who  began  life  with  one  negro  and  a  wood-yard 
on  the  river.  The  mother  died  long  since,  and  the  daugh- 
ter grew  up  as  the  forest-trees  grow,  until  two  or  three 
years  ago  she  chose  to  go  away  to  a  convent  for  train- 
ing. She  is  a  good,  though  eccentric,  mother  to  her 
young  brother,  and  fairly  idolizes,  after  her  own  fashion, 
her  elder,  in  honor  of  whose  return  on  leave  she  gives  the 
evening." 

"  And  does  the  elder  brother — "  began  Amy. 

"  We  shall  see  what  we  shall  see,"  oracularly  interposed 
Mr.  Erie ;  "  only  don't,  my  dear  Amy,  begin  too  desperate 
a  flirtation,  lest  I  find  it  a  duty  to  despatch  myself  v>-ith  all 
possible  speed  to  AYeir." 

Miss  Grahame  giggled  appreciatingly,  perking  up  her 
sharp  little  nose  in  a  manner  that  quite  upset  Fadette's 
gravity,  and  arranging  the  folds  of  her  dress,  displaying 
thereby  a  pretty  slippered  foot,  which  evidently  belonged 
to  no  reserve-corps. 

"  Ohj  Mr.  Erie,"  she  said,  making  a  sudden  swoop  upon 
him,  "  you  must  not  leave  us  now  without  one  of  your  long 
visits.  After  seeing  you  weekly,  as  we  used,  you  cannot 
imagine  how  ve'y  sadly  we  have  missed  you.  Y'hat,  you 
have  missed  us,  too,  you  were  going  to  say  ?  Ah,  but  that 
is  so  different!  Though  I  am  sure  we  are  all  unselfish 
enough  to  give  you  up  to  our  country.  By  the  way,  I  am 
vc'y  much  pleased,  Mr.  Erie,  to  hear  you  have  lately  named 


BANDOLPn  HO  WOE,  125 

your  plantation  after  one  of  our  greatest  men — Gen.  Beau- 
regard. That  does  credit  to  your  patriotism ;  indeed  it  does. 
Are  you  fond  of  the  country,  Mr.  Kutledge  ?  You  should 
not  have  chosen  the  winter  for  your  trial  of  it,  but  you  will 
like  it  very  much  in  the  spring,  I  assure  you." 

"  The  country  ?  Charming  enough  in  pastorals,  no  doubt. 
But  give  me  a  fine  landscape  in  my  library,  where  a  lake 
is  beautiful  without  the  inconvenience  of  crossing,  and 
clouds  roll  grandly  up,  unattended  by  damp  and  rheum. 
The  fiice  of  Xature,  forsooth !  Young  ladies,  your  mirrors 
countenance  my  preference.  And  what  can  the  voice  of 
the  wind,  or  the  murmur  of  the  waters,  say  half  so  agreea- 
bly as  tlie  tones  of  auld  acquaintance,  or  the  cheery  chat 
around  the  ingleside  ?  As  to  feathered  songsters,  not  one 
warbles  to  compare  with  my  caged  mocking-bird  here. 
Depend  upon  it.  Dame  Nature  created  the  country  but  as 
an  instrument  for  the  creation  of  the  city.  Am  I  not  right. 
Miss  Yaughan  ?" 

Before  Miss  Yaughan,  slowly  raising  her  eyes  from  her 
work,  had  replied.  Miss  Grahame  hastened  with  a  simper 
of  consciousness  to  sanction  her  guest's  opinion,  that  the 
feminine  "  human  face  divine"  is  certainly  the  chef  (Vceuvre  ; 
in  which  sentiment  the  Scotch  poet,  liobert  Burns,  agrees 
with  her.  And  the  city  of  course  is  the  place  to  see  peo- 
ple. So  much  easier  to  get  up  a  dance  there — and  for  her 
part,  she  was  perfectly  in  love  with  dancing.  Hereditary, 
that  love — her  great-grandfather  was  a  Frenchman. 

Amy's  knitting-ball  here  opportunely  dropped  from  her 
lap  and  rolled  toward  Fadette,  who  crossed  the  room  to 
restore  it,  whispering,  as  she  leaned  over  her  cousin's 
chair — 

"  Sau-ce  qui  pent  /  He  has  my  prayers,  I  can  no  more. 
Now  that  she  is  setting  her  forbears  on  their  dancing-feet 
again,  imagination  refuses  to  suggest  when  she  may  for- 


126  BANDOLPH  IIOXOR 

bear.  I'll  e'en  go  over  to  the  sofa  there,  to  Mrs.  Grahame. 
She  is  just  the  sweetest  little  woman  I" 

Fadette  sat  apart  when  gentle  Mrs.  Grahame  rose  from 
her  side  at  the  fretful  entreaty  of  her  little  girl,  who  had 
been  leaning  on  her  lap,  rubbing  her  sleepy  half-shut  eyes, 
and  now  waxed  importunate  upon  mamma  to  take  her  to 
Mammy,  while  the  baby  Matoaca  ceased  her  merry  cooing 
to  the  stranger. 

Fadette  watched,  until  the  door  closed  after  the  neat 
slight  figure  with  the  smooth  brown  hair,  the  sweet  smile, 
and  soft  white  hands  so  tenderly  guiding  the  uncertain 
steps  of  the  children.  Then  her  attention  reyerted  to  the 
circle  round  the  centre-table. 

Amy  sat  beneath  the  chandelier,  ayailing  herself  of  eyery 
ray  of  light  as  she  went  the  slow  round  of  that  still  intri- 
cate, but  most  customary  parlor-work,  the  soldier's  sock. 
31iss  Yaughan  plied  swift  yet  careless  needles,  while  her 
dark  eyes  were  at  liberty,  now  to  kindle  with  interest  when 
she  raised  them  attentiyely  to  Mr.  Eutledge,  now  to  droop 
upon  the  carpet,  when  3Ir.  Erie  spoke  to  her  earnestly 
and  low. 

Amy  was  replying  to  Miss  Grahame,  and  no  ear  less 
acute  than  Fadette's  could  have  caught  his  words — "  my 
letter  yesterday — why  did  you  not  answer — cruel — " 

The  color  flashed  into  Miss  Vaughau's  pale  face,  as  T\'itli 
downcast  lashes  she  listened.  Fadette  flushed  too,  but  she 
lifted  a  book  of  engravings  from  the  table  near,  and  reso- 
lutely fixed  her  attention  upon  the  village  group  before  her : 
so  fixed,  that  a  moment  after,  Mr.  Erie's  voice  at  her  side 
surprised  her  into  a  start. 

He  claimed  half  her  sofa,  and  her  first  impulse  was  to 
relinquish  the  whole.  She  furtively  glanced  across  at  Miss 
Vaughan's  mournfully  resolute  bowed  face,  and  then  up  at 
his — not  glad,  not  utteiiy  wretched,  expressing  weariness 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  12'7 

rather  than  emotion.  And  she  drew  away  her  dress,  silently 
granting:  his  claim. 

Weariness  was  predominant,  as  he  threw  himself  back, 
saying — 

"  Ah,  Sleepy  Hollow  the  Lesser.  Be  my  guardian  fairy, 
will  you,  for  five  minutes — five  centuries." 

Almost  he  closed  his  eyes — so  nearly,  that  Fadette  could 
unobserved  observe  him. 

More  changes  passed  over  her  countenance  than  over  his, 
where  restlessness  presently  gave  place  to  a  quiet  content. 
It  puzzled  her  more  and  more.  Was  it  repose  after  vic- 
tory ?  Miss  Yaughan's  set  mouth  said  nay  to  that.  Was 
it  submission  to  defeat  ?     He  to  submit  ? 

Suddenly  he  turned,  smiling  as  she  hurriedly  bent  over 
her  engravings. 

"  That  is  not  the  book  you  were  reading,"  he  said,  mis- 
chiev^ously. 

"How  should  you  know  what  I  was  doing?  You  were 
asleep." 

"  Xot  exactly.  I  know  by  your  face  that  you  were  read- 
ing mine." 

"  Light  reading,  very,"  she  rejoined,  carelessly. 

"  On  the  contrary.     Now  interpret  to  me." 

"If  you  will  fall  asleep  again,  and  let  me  finish,"  she 
laughed,  in  confusion. 

"  Not  I.  You  have  too  fully  roused  me,"  and  he  leaned 
forward,  dropping  all  nonchalance  of  manner. 

"You  are  too  prejudiced  to  be  observant,"  he  added. 

"  I  know." 

"  You  deliberately  select  the  glasses  through  which  to 
read  a  volume — rose-color  for  a  favorite,  and  so  on." 

"  But,  Mr.  Erie,"  she  said,  deprecatingly,  "  not  many  read 
as  you  do.     Does  she  to  whom  you  have  been  talking  ?" 

"  Miss  Grahame  ?    Are  you  blind  indeed  ?     How  can  she 


128  BANDOLPU  HOXOR 

read,  who  begins  and  ends  with  great  IP  There  is  no  7i  in 
her  alphabet." 

Fadette  smiled. 

"  Did  you  notice,"  she  said,  "  how  she  pronounces  *  ve'y  ?* 
That  word  is  the  test-oath  with  me.  But  I  spoke  of  Miss 
Vaughan." 

His  brow  darkened,  and  he  returned  severely : 

"  Miss  Yaughan — who  the  deuce — I  beg  your  pardon — 
ever  gave  it  her — looks  through  a  darkened  glass  that 
would  discern  spots  on  the  very  disk  of  the  sun.  The 
spots  are  there,  it  is  true,  but  it  would  be  more  becoming 
in  her  to  look  at  the  rays." 

Fadette's  lip  curled. 

"Aha,  Sir  Sun,  the  rays  have  failed  to  sweeten  the 
grapes,"  she  thought. 

"  Do  you  give  reading-lessons  ?"  she  asked. 

"  Xo  unknown  tongues  for  you,  Miss  Chicora.  ChiiTup 
away  the  lays  you  have  learned^  of  old,  lest  new  ones  bear 
a  harsher  ring.  Your  book-knowledge  of  men  is  safe  as 
theoretical  swimming.  But  one  must  plunge  into  the 
stream  to  know  its  strength  and  depth.  And  if  one  finds 
also  its  shallows,  and  the  possibility  of  stemming  the  cur- 
rent— still,  mocking-birds,  if  by  chance  they  gain  the  shore, 
gain  it  with  plumage  Avet  and  ruffled.  And,  panting  and 
wave-tossed,  they  have  no  voice  to  sing  their  song." 

"  Yet  you  use  that  book-knowledge  of  men.  You  read  a 
great  deal." 

"But  am  no  great  reader.  Distinction  without  differ- 
ence, you  think?  Xot  so.  Men  are  studies,  books  are 
light  reading.  The  former  I  prefer,  but  accept  the  latter 
in  defiiult  of  them.  Holmes  says  some  people  may  be  used 
as  intellectual  tea-pots.  Unfortunately,  too  many,  like 
your  Miss  Grahame,  contain  quantities  of  mysteriously 
weak  infusion,  stale  with  long  standing,  and  are  so  brimful 


nAXDOLPH  HONOR.  i29 

that  they  spout  it  forth  in  the  most  unprovoked  manner, 
will  you  nill  you — leakily  copious." 

"  Well,  thank  Fortune,  I  am  no  tea-pot,"  she  laughed. 

*'  I  do,  most  sincerely,"  he  said  gayly,  "  for  burning  hot, 
icily  cold,  bitter-sweet  you  would  be,  all  in  one  moment, 
in  the  bursting  of  a  bubble." 

"And  now  that  you  have  been  spouting  so  bountifully, 
I'll  go  dribble  a  few  drops  as  my  own.  Don't  inform  on 
me,"  she  ended,  rising. 


J     Bu      ir      !if?y      tt      1^  ^r—r 


^^m 


I  ^^JJ:1J1-J.^^^J 


'     ■'      "     >^      "     "*  -^ — ^    "^     "     " 


CHAPTER   XII. 


A    BALL    IX    THE    BACKAVOODS. 


"I  have  grown  weary  of  these  windows — sights 
Come  thick  enough  and  clear  enough  with  thought.'' 

Casa  Guidi  Windows. 

ALF-PAST  five— the  ball  to  open  in  two  hours— 
and  we  to  make  ten  Arkansas  miles  and  a  bayou  I 
Young  ladies,  you  will  be  forced  to  dance  with  me 
all  night  in  self-defence,  for  you  will  be  too  late  for  any 
other  partner." 

So  said  Ruthven  Erie,  impatiently  slashing  at  the  rose- 
bushes with  his  whip,  as  he  waited  on  the  gallery,  while 
the  girls  exchanged  last  words  with  Mr.  and  3Irs.  Grahame, 
who  were  not  going. 

"  Have  mercy  upon  my  poor  flowers,  for  here  we  are," 
Miss  Yaughan  rejoined,  descending  the  steps. 

"You  will  allow  me  to  drive  you,"  he  rather  aflirmed 
than  requested,  staying  her  when  she  would  have  passed 
by  to  the  large  carnage. 

She  answered  hurriedty,  in  a  lowered  tone — 

"  I  have  asked  Mr.  Rut  ledge  to  go  with  me.  If  you  wish 
to  say  any  thing  further,  you  can  find  opportunity  this 
evening.     It  is  in  vain,  I  tell  you  before." 

Without  reply,  he  assisted  her  into  the  carriage,  and 
went  bxick  to  seek  Fadette.  There  she  was,  very  near, 
half  hidden  behind  those  tall  rose-trees,  pulling  away  at 
the  roses,  her  face  in  as  deep  a  glow  as  any  blossom  she 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  131 

had  tossed  into  her  half-raised  dress.  In  her  haste,  slie 
had  forgotten  thorns,  and  one  just  then  gave  her  a  sharp 
reminder.  She  hchl  the  injured  hand  in  her  other,  while 
tears,  she  scarcely  knew  foi*  what,  glittered  on  her  droop- 
ing lashes,  and  the  full  red  lips  were  rounded  in  a  half 
fretful  pout. 

He  watched  her  an  instant  unseen.  What  a  child  she  is 
still!  he  thought.  And  then  he  asked,  gently,  whether 
she  would  not  drive  with  him — whether  she  had  hurt  her- 
self— and  might  he  assist  her. 

She  started  and  averted  her  head,  dashing  the  drops 
from  her  eyes  as  from  her  blossoms,  before  she  faced  him 
brightly,  twining  a  rose-tendril  in  her  hair,  and  saying  that 
she  believed  it  would  be  gayer  in  the  carriage  with  all  the 
rest,  as  Monsieur  wore  his  philosopher  frown  this  evening. 
Nothing  at  all  was  the  matter— or — yes,  she  had  a  thorn  in 
her  hand — which  she  would  keep,  for  she  rather  liked  the 
tribe,  she  ended  with  a  smile. 

He  looked  at  .her  fixedly,  and  she  seemed  to  feel  it, 
for  her  color  deepened  yet  more.  In  a  moment,  he  had 
turned  on  his  heel  and  left  her.  She  caught  his  mut- 
tered "Fool,  to  seek. for  aught  but  coldness  or  caprice  in 
woman !" 

The  tear-drops.were  not  all  gone.  She  brushed  another 
contemptuously  away  ere  she  went  to  claim  her  place  in 
the  carriage. 

"  If  there  are  grapes  beyond  his  reach,  he  fain  would 
stoop  for  others,  that  the  higher  may  see  there  are  those  to 
be  had  for  the  plucking,"  she  thought,  watching  him  where 
he  stood  a  moment  irresolute  beside  the  buggy. 

"  Thorne,"  he  cried,  suddenly,  "  come  over  here  and  drive 
one  of  the  ladies.  I  want  your  horse.  You  profit  by  the 
exchange,  old  fellow." 

In  this  view  of  the  case,  Mr,  Thorne,  a  late  acquisition 


132  BANDOLPH  IIOXOR 

to  the  party  in  the  person  of  a  young  soklier,  fully  coin- 
cided, and  suiTcndcred  the  handsome  bay,  that,  as  Kuthyen 
Erie  vaulted  into  the  saddle,  was  off  in  an  instant,  impa- 
tient as  his  rider. 

Fadette  could  not  help  looking  after  him  admiringly,  as 
he  galloped  by.  For,  erer  since,  and  mayhap  ages  before, 
"the  young  Lochinvar  rode  out  of  the  west,"  ideal  gallants 
"  so  faithful  in  love  and  so  dauntless  in  war,"  have  ridden 
into  the  lists  on  fiery  steeds,  with  ringing  spur  and  flashing 
steel.  Sydney  Smith  suggests  the  introduction  of  military 
dolls  into  the  nursery,  to  harden  the  heart  feminine.  But 
with  soldiers  alone,  in  these  days  at  least,  it  will  not  toy, 
and  the  battle-worn  gray,  duly  brass-buttoned,  or  with  few 
pretensions  to  regulation  uniformity,  boasts  truer  glitter 
imder  Southern  sun  than  any  golden  fleece  of  the  herd  that 
would  tamely  submit  to  the  shearing. 

Nioht  had  closed  in  before  the  ten  miles  were  passed, 
and  the  bayou  gained.  "Waveless  and  almost  currentless, 
this  was  soon  crossed  in  the  large  flat  ieto  which  the  two 
carriages  were  driven.  But  a  few  strokes  of  the  oars  by 
the  ne2i;roes  in  waiting,  impelled  it  from  the  one  l)ank  where 
trees  and  bushes  dipping  low  in  the  water  shut  out  the 
forest  solitudes,  to  the  other,  where,  through  a  few  great 
oaks  in  the  clearing,  shone  forth  festive  lights. 

The  moon,  too,  threw  light  upon  the  sti-aight  pathway 
in  the  srass,  to  a  log-cabin,  in  form  resembling  the  Sleepy 
Hollow  homestead,  save- that  here  the  walls  were  of  rough- 
hewn  logs,  the  interstices  filled  in  with  mud — an  unfailing 
cement,  to  judge  by  the  state  of  the  roads.  These  had 
recalled  to  Fadette,  as  the  carriage  plunged  through  them, 
traditions  of  Arkansas,  in  which  the  driver  of  the  third 
stratum  of  mules  and  wagon  is  heard  suftbcatedly  to  ob- 
ject to  a  fourth  passing  over  unseeing. 

Ruthven  Erie  walked  up  with  Fadette  to  the  house,  in 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  13.3 

order  to  post  her  to  some  indispensable  extent,  as  he  de- 
clared, in  backwoods  etiquette. 

"Do  you  know  the  received  formula  for  dancing  invita- 
tions ?  Hear  then,  and  mark  !  Some  dashing  soldier — not 
a  few  are  spending  their  Christmas  furlough  in  the  vicinity, 
besides  your  most  obedient — will  come  up  to  inquire, '  Want 
to  dance  ?'  You  are  familiar  with  the  style  in  which  to 
reply,  so  far  as  down-look  and  up-look,  and  smile,  but  you 
must  also  say,  *  Don't  care  if  I  do.'  Upon  which,  you  will 
be  requested  to  git  up  and  shake  yourself  This  may  be 
accomplished  thus :  three  bobs  to  a  courtesy — now^  remem- 
ber— double-shuffle,  and  pigeon-wing  on  light  fantastic. 
You  can  jump  rope  ?  Then  you  will  do  as  far  as  dancing 
is  concerned." 

"  I'll  watch  and  imitate  your  performances." 

"  Xo.  I  am  €71  philosophe  to-night,  as  you  said.  Poor 
Thorne  was  in  despair  at  having  none  but  very  extensive 
cavalry  boots,  so  he  stepped  into  mine,  while  I  enter  the 
cavalry,  great  flaps,  bell-spurs,  and  all,  as  you  may  both 
see  and  hear." 

"  Is  it  possible  he  has  as  small — " 

"  It  is  very  possible  he  has  as  small.  And  now  tell  me — ■ 
canst,  as  '  to  the  manner  born,'  discuss  spinning,  warp,  and 
filling,  recipe  for  persimmon  beer,  when  the  water  will  be 
up,  the  last  barbecue,  and  Tom,  Dick,  or  Harry  in  Mr. 
Price's  or  Ben  McCuUough's  foot-company  ?  And  last,  but 
by  no  means^  least,  the  pre-eminence  of  Scotch  snufi*  over 
this,  that,  and  the  other  ?  Xo  ?  Then  you  won't  be  heavy 
on  conversation,"  he  pronounced  gravely,  shaking  his  head. 

Fadette  laughed.  "  What  in  the  world  has  snuff  to  do- 
with  these  latter  days  ?'-'  she  asked.  "  And  voiis  co7inaissez- 
vous  on  all  these  topics  ?" 

"  Both  queries  I  leave  you  to  answer,  as  here  we  are  on 
the  field  of  your  conquests  to  be." 


134  BAXDOLPn  HOXOR. 

For  hark  I  the  combined  liarmony  of  fiddle,  triangle,  and 
banjo,  with  occasional  warwhoop  accompaniment  from  the 
dusky,  grinning  banjo-player,  perched  in  a  corner  above 
the  heads  of  liis  musical  brethren.  The  guests  entered  a 
long,  lofty,  bare  apartment,  where  partitions,  reaching  only 
half-way  to  the  roof,  and  the  roof  itself  unceiled,  and 
crossed  by  heavy  time-darkened  beams,  would  seem  to 
present  a  glimpse  of  primitive  .times  in  this  primeval 
forest. 

About  fifty  persons,  young  and  old,  were  there.  Two 
double  sets  had  already  formed,  and  to  their  movements 
Fadette  directed  her  attention,  anxious  concerning  the 
three  bobs  and  a  courtesy-feat.  There  was  much  more 
action  than  in  circles  polite,  yet  not  unfrequently  accom- 
panying grace.  Elephantine  gambols  certainly,  those  exe- 
cuted by  Colin  the  heavy,  or  that  greenfinch  girl  scarce 
lighter.  But  it  is  truly  astonishing  to  behold  the  young 
soldier  in  cavalry  boots  mount  in  air  and  descend  to  earth 
swift  as  eyes  can  follow  or  fiddle  play,  with  never  a  jar 
upon  his  puncheon  heavier  than  the  fall  of  thistle-down. 
And  the  figures  following  upon  each  other  without  a 
moment's  pause  or  the  hum  of  conversation,  were  many  of 
them  new  to  Fadette,  and  struck  her  fancy. 

While  some  among  the  dancers  were  simply  and  Avell 
dressed,  others  might  have  stepped  from  gaudy  fashion- 
plates,  four  or  five  years  behind  the  times.  In  garments 
masculine,  Confederate  gray  prevailed — black  swallow-tail 
and  unpretending  jeans  being  confined  to  the  elderly  part 
of  the  community.  The  girls  were  pretty,  for  those  few 
among  them  who  had  the  bayou  complexion,  muddy  as  its 
waters  in  time  of  ovei-flow,  had  veiled  it  beneath  that 
powder  which  has  done  to  death  many  a  brave  at  a  ball. 
Soft  white  hands  and  easy  manners,  generally  companions, 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  I35 

were  not  rare,  for  Southern  Avomcn  of  whatever  gmcle  have 
little  manual  labor  to  perform. 

Those  who  did  not  dance  were  grouped  around  on 
benches,  or  the  usual  split-bottomed  chair — rocking-chairs 
being  seats  of  honor.  Here  a  couj^le  of  serious  small 
planters,  oblivious  of  festivities,  were  absorbed  in  the  dis- 
cussion of  war-news,  as  contained  in  their  last  paper,  a 
week  old.  There  an  elderly  dame  in  neat  black  silk  sat 
vigorously  swaying  to  and  fro,  quite  as  interested  in  the 
dance  as  the  little  white-headed  girl  upon  her  knee,  who, 
with  chubby  finger  in  mouth,  stared  intent  upon  the  wild 
"  sasshe"  of  that  gaudy  greenfinch  sister.  Numbers  of  the 
middle-aged  women  had  drawn  from  their  pockets  small 
bottles  or  boxes,  furnished  with  correspondingly  small 
brushy  sticks,  which  they  rubbed  in  their  mouths,  first  dip- 
ping up  the  yellow-brown  powder  in  the  bottles.  This  was 
snufl-dipping — not  at  all  confined  to  the  elders  save  at  a 
party,  when  young  girls  hesitate  to  display  their  passion. 
But  among  the  wall-flowers  was  one  apart  in  the  corner 
the  entire  evening,  who  drew  no  such  distinctions,  but  plied 
her  stick  until  one  ceased  to  wonder  at  the  snufly  tint  of 
hair  and  skin,  or  that  no  one  asked  her  to  dance,  any  more 
than  they  would  a  jar  of  the  best  Scotch.  She  meantime 
w^as  quite  content,  fixedly  regarding  the  dance,  as  if  dan- 
cing, after  dipping,  were  the  one  serious  business  of  life — 
from  time  to  time  hitchnig  herself  up  on  her  chair,  bracing 
mind  and  body  to  the  comprehension  of  figures. 

Without  the  back  windows  w^aved  a  cluster  of  black 
faces,  shining  eyes,  and  white  teeth  displayed  from  ear  to 
ear.  The  house  and  quarter  negroes  congregated  to  see 
the  dancing  of  the  "  white  folks,"  among  whom  "  our  Miss 
Charley"  rose  pre-eminent. 

"  So  you  uns  had  to  pull  up  stakes  in  Car'lina,  and  make 


1 3  6  nAXD  OLPII  HOXOB. 

tracks  for  our  country,"  was  the  greetinsr  of  the  gray-haired 
ruddy  host,  fixing  Mr.  Rutledge  with  his  quick,  light-ljhie 
eye,  after  making  the  party  heartily  welcome  to  the  "  aver- 
sions" of  the  evening. 

"I  reckon  you  find  all  mighty  different  here.  Not 
cleared  and  settled  up  like  the  old  States.  Never  been 
thar  myself — raised  in  Mississippi — ^but  heerd  it  was  a  hard 
country,  two  rocks  to  one  dirt,  like  our  hills  out  yonder." 

Mr.  Rutledge  explained  'VN'ith  becoming  gravity  that 
the  two-rocks-to-one-dirt  quality  was  confined  to  his  hills 
also.  On  his  coast  plantation  was  raised  the  finest  Sea 
Island  cotton. 

"  I  wonder  !"  was  the  old  man's  exclamation, — inquiring 
next  whether  it  was  because  the  Yankees  had  "  evaded" 
the  place,  that  Mr.  Rutledge  removed  his  people.  "  Aston- 
ishing how  them  Yankees  always  are  the  hardest  kind  of 
masters,  though  now  they  make  out  like  the  almighty  dol- 
lar wa'n't  shucks  to  the  almighty  nigger.  High  time  white 
folks  was  a  gitting  out  from  among  them.  Union  and  Old 
Flag  indeed  !  Can't  come  that  shenanigan  over  me  !  Uniou 
been  played  out  for  a  coon's  age,  and  as  to  the  old  flag, 
since  them  'publicans  taken  it  into  their  dirty  hands,  its 
something  I  ain't  got  no  use  for.  Xew  tricks  are  a  heap 
better  than  the  devil's  threadbare  coat,  if  it  did  once  be- 
long to  respectable  people.  We'll  go  it  alone  if  we  do  git 
euchred ;  but  I  reckon  we'll  slam  them  at  this  game,  and  go 
laps  into  the  next  war  they've  a  mind  to  try  on.  Them 
'publicans  '11  be  streaking  it  out  of  the  little  end  of  the  horn 
yet,  sure.  Don't  the  Scriptures  prophesy  it  ?  And  no  fear 
of  Arkansas  going  up  the  spout,  when  Mr.  Piice's  got  a 
whole  company  of  infootry  up  thar  in  Missourah." 

Fadette,  her  hand  still  in  Mr.  Erie's  arm,  stood  talking 
to  a  tall,  handsome,  broad-shouldered  lass,  with  a  tAvinkle 
of  quiet  humor  in  her  well-opened  blue  eyes,  and  a  large 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  I37 

firm  mouth,  that,  when  she  smiled,  liberally  displayed  very 
white  large  teeth.  Her  voice  was  rich  and  deep — manly, 
though  low.  And  there  was  a  suggestion  of  manliness 
also  in  the  easy,  quiet  manner  with  which  she  received  her 
guests,  and  in  the  grasp  of  the  firm  white  hand,  which,  after 
for  an  instant  covering  Fadette's,  met  Ruthven  Erie's  with 
such  frank  friendliness  of  greeting.  Very  graceful,  after 
its  determined  way,  was  the  wave  of  the  chestnut  hair  back 
from  the  broad  square  forehead,  and  far  from  inelegant  the 
flow  of  the  close-fitting,  fine  black-and-white  homespun. 
Fadette  forgot  to  ask  herself,  as  she  listened,  "Is  she  a 
lady?"  For  she  was,  indeed,  "Charley  Goodfellow,  sui 
generis.'''' 

"  Yes,"  she  was  saying  in  reply  to  Mr.  Erie,  "  it  just 
came  to  the  issue  I  prophesied  you  last  Aprif,  v>'hen  you 
left  for  the  war.  I  waited  on  my  brother  for  two  weeks 
after  that ;  then,  in  utter  desperation,  determined  he  should 
crawfish  no  longer.  I  shouldered  my  shot-gun,  and  so 
marched  out,  where  he  sat  on  the  gallery,  reckoning  up 
the  votes  he  might  expect  for  the  captaincy  of  the ''new 
company.  And  in  spite  of  a  muttered  hint  to  paddle  my 
own  canoe,  we  had  then  and  there  a  thorough  explana- 
tion,—he  or  I  must  and  should  go  to  Virginia,  and  tliat  at 
once.  N'ot  that  he  wished  to  play  out  of  the  fight— he  is 
afraid  of  nothing  in  this  round  world,"  she  went  on  with 
a  proud  lifting  of  the  head—"  but  he  waited  to  go  in  as  an 
officer.  As  if  there  needed  stars  on  a  man's  collar  to  show 
him  the  enemy,  or  gold-lace  bars  to  fight  behind !  But 
thus,  in  a  fright  for  me,  he  put  out  in  time  for  Manassas." 

"But  you  did  not  really  mean  it?"  half-questioned  Fa- 
dette, surveying  her  in  bewilderment. 

"  I  did  that,"  she  returned ;  "  I  won't  have  the  last  one 
of  the  family  out  here  in  the  woods,  so  many  bumps  on  a 
log.     My  father  is  too  old,  Johnny  too  young.     So  long  as 


138  P.ANDOLPH  HOXOB. 

my  elder  brother  does  his  duty  there,  mine  is  here.  Per- 
haps it  may  be,  at  all  events,  with  my  father  and  Johnny 
to  look  after,"  she  ended,  almost  with  a  sigh. 

"  But  what  could  you  do  in  the  army  ?" 

"  3Ir.  Erie  there  can  tell  you  if  his  gun  has  brought  down 
more  deer  than  mine — if  he  rides  a  wilder  horse  or  leaps  a 
wider  ditch.  I  am  not  afraid  to  chirp,  I  assure  you,  even 
if  there  is  no  down  here,"  and  she  stroked  her  chin  in 
manly  fashion, — a  gesture  which  Fadette  afterward  found 
she  often  used  unconsciously. 

"  True  enough.  Miss  Charley,"  assented  Mr.  Erie.  "  But 
why,  since  you  thought  of  joining  the  army,  did  you  not 
do  so  under  your  gallant  captain,  whom  I  left  striving  so 
unceasingly  to  enlist  you  ?" 

She  opehed  her  mouth  rather  wide  for  the  low  laugh, 
rubbing  her  hands  together  gleefully. 

"  Routed  completely — worse  than  Bull  Run  Races,"  she 
replied.  "  The  poor  fellow  abandoned  his  siege-guns  and 
fled,  not  daring  to  beg  quarter.  This  was  the  way  of  it. 
My  father  and  Sol  took  it  into  their  heads  he  would  be  a 
good  match  for  me — well-looking,  river  place,  thirty  hands, 
a  step  above  our  position  in  society — all  that  sort  of  thing. 
Even  Johnny,  poor  boy,  was  given  to  muttering  of  old 
maids.  So  here  was  the  gentleman  forevermore,  tinkering 
about  my  spinning-wheel,  following  me  to  the  dairy,  and 
would  doubtless  have  penetrated  into  the  mysteries  of  but- 
ter and  curd,  if  I  had  only  said  the  word.  At  first  I  tried 
possuming — was  blind,  deaf,  dead,  to  every  advance.  But 
that  was  not  in  my  line,  and  I  determined  to  get  the  dead- 
wood  on  hiiiL  'Twas  hard — I  like  the  creature,  if  only  he 
had  not  pestered  me  out  of  my  life.  But  however  hard,  it 
had  to  be  done.  So  one  morning  I  ordered  him  out  hunting. 
And  a  rare  chase  it  was,  I  warrant  vou.  All  throucrh  the 
woods  on  my  red  Lightning — loping  along  like  mad,  plung- 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  1,09 

^  ing  into  tlio  tliickest  of  the  canebrake,  firing  at  random 
dangerously  near  my  sportman's  head,  he  tlie  while  the 
perfect  impersonation  of  the  frog  in  the  fable,  'fun  to  you' — 
shouting  and  hallooing — how  I  wished  I  dared  swear  too — 
swimming  the  bayou  which  was  running  strongly  from  the 
overflow — and  bringing  him  np  in  the  evening  floundering 
in  the  slough  behind  the  quarter.  That  was  my  last  view. 
He  went  to  Virginia  the  next  day.  Tliat  taught  what  I 
had  been  assuring  him  for  months — that  we  were  no  show- 
ing for  a  match,  and  that  there  were  nicer  and  prettier  girls 
would  yoke  with  him  much  better.  I  paid  for  the  lesson 
myself  with  a  severe  chill,  but  thought  the  affair  cheaply 
settled,  as  my  father  and  brother  just  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  I  would  never  pull  in  double  harness,  and  that  I 
had  no  more  use  for  a  husband  than  the  Mississippi  has  for 
a  sail-boat.  If  ever  I  see  him  again,  and  he  is  married — 
for  he's  certain  now  to  fall  in  love  with  some  soft  little 
creature  who,  for  worlds,  would  not  mount  any  horse  but 
his  own  hobby,  and  who  only  knows  the  report  of  a  pistol 
in  his  battle-stories — I'll  e'en  go  up  to  him,  explain  why  I 
did  it  all,  and  beg  his  pardon." 

"  But  he  is  one  of  the  best  of  fellows,"  remonstrated  Mr. 
Erie,  much  amused.  "  Had  you  taken  him  in  hand,  you 
might  have  made  what  you  chose  of  him." 

"  Why  should  I  attempt  the  task  ?  As  to  making  any- 
thing of  him,  churning  through  all  eternity  won't  make 
butter  come  in  an  empty  churn." 

At  that  moment  advanced  the  host,  arm  in  arm  with  an 
individual  who  claims  attention,  were  it  only  for  his  uniform, 
gotten  up  regardless  of  blockade,  in  lavish  expenditure  of 
buttons  and  gold  lace,  and  for  the  conscious  pride  with 
which  he  regarded  both  it  and  himself 

A  tall,  broad-shouldered,  loose-jointed  figure,  on  which 
the  Confederate  coat  looked  much  as  if  it  had  dropped, 


140  nAXDOLPn  UOXOR. 

reversing  Elijah's  mantle,  from  a  lesser  -to  a  greater.  A 
broad,  heavy-featured  countenance,  over  which  forty  rugged 
"winters  had  begun  to  cast  their  shadows  in  stray  lines  as 
rugged.  A  large,  good-natured,  vacillating  mouth,  .-Ind 
fine  teeth.  Eyes  of  a  peculiar  dark  wood-color,  with  per- 
chance a  slight  reflection  of  the  foliage  tints — yet  more 
peculiar  in  their  power  of  darting  forward  with  his  head 
and  shoulders,  whenever  speech  became  emphatic.  A  most 
empresse  manner,  a  low  confidential  tone,  now  and  then 
hurried  and  jerky.  A  perfect  mane  of  dark  hair,  from  time 
to  time  shaken  back  with  a  sj^irited  toss  of  the  head,  sur-  ♦ 
mounted  all.  And  this  all.  Lieutenant  Solomon  Good- 
fellow — in  familiar  parlance,  Sol — him  the  proud  old  man 
l^resented  to  Fadette,  and  by  him  was  her  hand  impressively 
requested  for  the  dance. 

"A  compromise  between  a  war-horse  and  a  sand-crab," 
Fadette  whispered  to  Ruthven  Erie,  while  her  partner  went 
his  way  to  order  a  change  of  tune.  "  Did  you  ever  behold 
such  eyes  ?  They  jump  at  one  so,  they  would  absolutely 
terrify,  were  it  not  for  their  very  inoffensive  expression." 

"  Come,  young  people,  stir  yourselves  round  like  a  six- 
mule  team  in  a  mud-hole,"  exhorted  the  old  man,  patting 
his  tall  daughter  on  the  shoulder,  as  she  moved  away. 

"  She  is  handsomer  every  time  I  see  her,"  said  Mr.  Erie, 
observing  the  father's  eyes  follow  with  evident  delight. 

"  And  just  as  bright  as  they  make  'em,"  responded  he, 
nibbing  his  hands  excitedly.  "  But  she'll  never  meet  up 
with  her  match  in  a  man,  I'm  afeard.  Why,  Sir,  there  was 
young  Stevens — him  that  was  setting  up  to  her  when  you 
went  away — kei*flummoxed  as  bad  as  any  man  you  ever 
seen.  But  he ! — he  wa'n't  nowhar.  She  give  him  the  go- 
by, kicked  him  plumb  into  the  middle  of  last  year,  she  did, 
and  they  say  the  poor  boy  ain't  been  oft'  his  head  since." 

Fadette  had  much  ado  to  keep  her  amusement  within 


RAA^DOLPIl  JlOXOIi.  j^j 

boumls  of  the  smile  polite,  while  she  returned  her  partner's 
protound  salaan,,  and  endeavored  to  keep  paee  ,vith  his 
pas  de  charge.  If  he  made  those  dashes  npon  the  enemy 
she  no  longer  marvelled  at  the  account  he  had  been  ^ivin'^ 
of  hnnselt  single-handed,  routing  half  a  dozen  in  the  battle 
•where  his  bars  were  won. 

"That  is  very  fine,"  he  said,  having  passed  not  in<.lo- 
nously  through  the  hazards  of  "circle  three,"  and  falUn<. 
back  on  his  fii^t  position,  unfurling  a  huge  handkerchief, 
obvious  y  intended  for  a  flag  of  truce-"  splendid  exercise  J 
splendid-for  us  young  people.  Think  so?"  was  his  con- 
tdential  query,  bending  low  for  her  reply 

She  smiled,  as  she  assented-"  '  Us,  young  people  !'  he  is 
oWer  than  my  guardian !"     And  there  came  the  memory 
o,  a  far  prison,  and  her  face  saddened. 
_    Her  partner  observed  it,  and  hastened  to  remove  the 
imagined  cause. 

"Don't-don't  be  low-spirited.  It  would  not  be  wise- 
would  it  now  ?-to  give  up  enjoying  this  evening  because 
there  might  not  be  another  for  the  next  three  months' 
^  ever  mind,  it  may  not  be  long  before  others  of  our  boys 
will  be  back,  and  then  somebody  will  give  an  evening,  for 

tlfT  ^T  ^''^•^'"'^  '"  "'•  ^  ^°P«  '^  ^^t"™  myself 
next  tall.  That  is,  if  my  country  can  spare  my  services  for 
a  tew  weeks." 

Fadette  gravely  trusted  they  would  he  spared  by  her 
being  at  peace,  and  he  could  then  retire  under  the  shade 
of  his  laurels,  which  might  also  afford  shelter  to  his  friends 

She  was  forced  to  raise  her  handkerchief  to  her  lips   as 

he  be^an  •'       ''''''  """''  """^  ^''''"''''  ""'"'^'"^  excitedly,'    ' 

"  Yes,  that  is  just  what  I  want.  Miss-somebody  to  share 
them  with.  I  am  a  domestic  man-a  very  domestic  man- 
though  It  might  not  seem  so  from  my  never  haviii-  mar- 


142  BAXDOLPII  IIOXOR. 

ried.  Time  enougfh  yet,  of  course,  you  say.  But  I'll  tell 
you — though  friends — a  great  many — have  told  me  I  was 
vain — (I  don't  know  why,  unless  they  judged  from  my 
manner,  being  a  man  of  the  world) — yet  I  never  have  seen 
any  young  lady  I  thought  actually  cared  very  much  about 
me — I  have  not,  really.  There  are  only  two  things  I  am 
particular  in  looking  for.  Beauty  is  a  very  pretty,  nice 
thing  to  have — and  so  are  negroes — but  heart  and  mind  ! — • 
heart  and  mind  I"  he  reiterated,  laying  his  hand  upon  the 
first,  and  tapping  the  forehead  where  cultivation  of  the 
latter  was  supposed  to  have  set  its  furrows.  His  eyes  the 
while  darted  impressively  forward,  reminding  Fadette  of 
the  childish  days  when,  playing  on  the  beach,  she  would 
tap  a  captured  sand-crab  on  the  back  to  make  him  put  forth 
those  wondrous  organs. 

In  a  pause  of  the  dance,  Fadette  stole  a  glance  where 
she  had  left  Ruthven  Erie.  He  had  disappeared.  There 
was  Amy  mingling  with  the  dancers,  where  Mr.  Rutledge 
too  had  his  place  with  a  young  and  pretty  woman,  who 
had  consigned  her  three-year-old  to  a  friend  beside  her. 
Miss  Arabella  Grahame  courtesied,  coquetted,  ambled,  and 
bridled,  quite  dazzling  the  tall,  blushing  soldier-boy,  her 
partner — occasionally,  en  Mademoiselle  Oracle^  confounded 
him.     But  where  was  Matoaca  Yaughan  ? 

The  quadrille,  as  all  things  must  at  last,  came  to  an  end, 
and  Fadette  had  seated  herself  near  a  window.  For,  Jan- 
uary though  it  was,  the  evening  was  one  of  spring's  fore- 
runners, and  the  blazing  logs  T^-ithin-doors  rendered  the 
mild  air  without  a  luxury.  By  dint  of  persevering  mono- 
syllables, she  had  driven  her  ardent  attendant  to  distant 
admiration — of  himself.  And  now  she  sat  quite  alone,  be- 
ginning to  think  the  ball  a  weariness. 

She  heard  footsteps  on  the  gallery  outside  her  window ; 
and  the  light  streaming  upon  two  passing  figures,  showed 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  I43 

her  K lit h veil  Erie,  and  Matoaca  Vaughan  on  his  arm.  His 
face  was  toward  his  companion,  averted  from  Fadette,  but 
of  hers  she  caught  one  glimpse.  There  was  inefiable  mourii- 
fulness  in  the  droop  of  the  beautiful  head,  but  the  mouth 
was  fixed  detenninedly.  Fadette  half-rose  to  go  away.  But 
she  could  no  longer  move  unseen.  He  had  paused  there, 
speaking  in  a  low,  though  vehemently  reproachful  tone— 

"  3Iatoaca  Vaughan,  have  you  then  no  fault,  that  you  are 
so  merciless  toward  the  man  you  love  ?" 

She  was  silent.     Fadette,  where  she  sat,  could  no  longer 
see  reply  in  her  face. 

He  continued  more  gently — 

"  You  know  the  whole  truth  now.  What  is  past,  is  past 
Then  let  it  go." 

"  What  is  past,  is  past.    The  far  and  near.     I  let  all  go." 
That  was  all.     The  clear,  decided  tones  were  lost  as  the 
twain  moved  on. 

The  gayer,  if  less  musical,  tones  of  the  fiddle  were  the 
next  she  heard.  And  then  the  eager  ones  of  young  Thorne 
asking  her  to  dance. 

^That  drive  began  his  conquest,  that  dance  achieved  it. 
:N'ever  before  had  Fadette  appeared  so  bright,  so  gay,  so 
altogether  charming.  The  dark-blue  silk  set  off  the  car- 
mine glow  of  her  cheek  and  the  sparkle  of  her  eyes.  Every 
motion  of  the  lithe  figure  was  grace  itself  And  with  what 
witchery  the  tiny  foot,  cased  in  its  slight  black  boot,  danced 
its  way  right  into  all  hearts,  and  left  its  impress  there— but 
most  of  all  in  that  of  her  ci-devant  driver !  Even  the  snuff- 
maiden,  whom  Fadette  called,  in  answer  to  her  partner's 
suggestion,  "  not  a  Lone  Star,  but  a  whole  constellation— 
the  Dipper"— slipped  her  bottle  into  her  pocket,  engrossed 
in  watching,  and  even  relaxed  into  a  smile,  moved  "by  the 
mspiration  of  Fadette's  ringing  laughter. 

Matoaca,  all  serene,  was  deep  in  converse  with  Mr.  Rut- 


U4  RANDOLPU  HOyOR. 

ledge.  Riithven  Erie  lounged  in  the  doorway,  alone,  in  no 
enviable  frame  of  mind,  to  judge  from  the  moody  glances 
following  Fadette,  as  she  glided  through  the  quadrille,  now 
turning  her  head  for  3,  last  word  with  her  partner,  now 
listening  to  his,  with  a  smile,  or  that  pretty  lifting  of  the 
brows  which  was  Fadette's  alone. 

It  was  the  first  time  her  will-o'-the-wisp  character  had 
flashed  out  so  clearly.  Lingering  home-sickness,  the  re- 
straint of  unfamiliar  faces,  absence  of  excitement,  had  ob- 
scured the  fairy-fire,  and  forced  it  to  plod  along  in  the  path 
marked  out  for  it,  instead  of  flitting  aside,  and  sparkling, 
and  alluring  after  its  own  wayward  wont.  But  music, 
however  homely,  made  her  heart  keep  time,  and  a  certain 
naughty  resolve,  as  she  observed  Ruthven  Erie's  uncon- 
cealed disappointment  on  finding  her  engaged  in  the  dance, 
added  yet  another  excitement. 

So  he  stood  there,  sarcastically  compassionating  the  de- 
luded Thorne,  congratulating  himself  upon  superior  wis- 
dom, calling  her  in  his  heart  an  arrant  little  flirt. 

Was  he  just  ?  Are  there  not  women  who  can  no  more 
help  being  "wo  to  men"  than  can  the  whirlpool  avoid 
drawing  on  the  adventurous  billow?  And  those  cruel 
Venus' s  Fly-Traps  are  not  midaphagi  in  malice  prepense, 
but  devour  their  hovering  prey  by  law  of  nature. 

Yet,  weary  perhaps  of  the  role  of  door-keeper,  he  joined 
the  buzzing  circle  round  her  at  the  conclusion  of  the  set, 
and  requested  the  honor  of  her  hand  for  the  next. 

"  Mine  is  the  first  claim,  Mr.  Erie,"  Lieutenant  Sol  has- 
tened to  interpose. 

Mr.  Erie,  looking  quite  over  him,  repeated  his  request,  as 
if  he  had  not  heard  a  word. 

Ere  Fadette  could  reply,  the  brilliant  Sol— ("  Phoebus  ! 
what  a  name  I") — reminded  that  he  had  the  first  claim, 
having  asked  her  just  as  Mr.  Erie  came  up. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  I45 

"  And  I  had  not  answered.  Neither  of  you  gentlemen 
have  a  claim — (Sol  certainly  not  the  shadow" — she  added, 
to  herself).  "  And  I'll  dance  with  whomsoever  I  will,"  she 
ended,  laughingly. 

The  whomsoever  represented  Mr.  Erie,  until  she  dis- 
tinguished a  slight  smile  of  certainty  curling  his  lip.  She 
accepted  Mr.  Goodfellow's  arm,  and  they  took  their  places 
at  the  head  of  the  set. 

Ruthven  Erie,  with  a  lazy  shrug,  turned  away.  And 
seeing  Amy  disengaged,  he  said,  in  passing,  "  Keep  your- 
self for  me,  Amy ;"  then  moved  on  to  a  short  distance,  and 
leaning  against  the  wall,  proceeded  to  disencumber  himself 
of  the  melodious  Texan  spurs. 

Tlte  fiddler  still  tuning  up,  there  was  silence  through  the 
room.  Many  eyes  had  been  fixed  upon  the  two  candidates 
for  the  honor  of  Fadette's  hand,  and  the  young  men,  Mr. 
Thorne  in  especial,  had  been  greatly  surprised  at  Mr.  Erie's 
quiet  acquiescence.  Therefore,  when  he  drew  aside,  and 
portentously  raised  and  examined  his  boot,  that  not  un- 
usual receptacle  for  pistols,  the  general  conclusion  arrived 
at  was,  that  something  was  "  up." 

A  frightened  twitter  among  the  women,  and  then  a  hur- 
ried shuffling,  and  barricades  hastily  constructed  of  chairs, 
benches,  etc.,  proved  that  the  anticipated  something  was 
nothing  less  than  a  cavalry  charge. 

The  gallant  lieutenant,  following  the  direction  of  every- 
body's stare,  and  suddenly  arresting  himself  on  the  field  of 
Manassas,  in  a  headlong  dash  he  was  describing  to  Fa- 
dette,  was  ware  of  the  demonstrations  opposite,  first  ob- 
served by  all  save  the  sleepy  complacent  fiddler  twanging 
away  with  half-shut  eyes. 

Imagining  himself,  perhaps,  still  upon  the  field  of  honor, 
he  flung  himself  forward  into  the  centre  of  the  room.  First, 
by  an  elevation  of  the  coat-tails,  he  revealed  a  pistol  hol- 

7 


146  RAyDOLPII  UOXOR. 

stcr,  from  which  lie  drew  the  weapon,  flourishing  it,  and 
phmting  liim self  firmly  in  a  defensive  attitude,  as  one  defy- 
ing the  armies  of  Israel  this  day.  "  Come  on,  and  I  will 
give  your  flesh,"  etc. 

All  this  had  passed  in  an  instant.  And  how  much  longer 
Euthven  Erie,  who  in  one  quick  glance  had  taken  in  the 
position  of  affairs,  and  who  now  bit  his  lip  to  conceal  his 
amusement,  while  searching  in  the  capacious  boot-top  for 
the  pistol  every  bystander  was  looking  for — how^  much 
longer  he  might  have  chosen  to  keep  np  the  farce,  cannot 
be  knowTi.  For,  at  this  moment,  the  maiden  in  green 
broke  away  from  all  detaining  friendly  hands,  and,  heed- 
less of  terrified  warnings  and  expostulations,  scaled,  at  a 
flying  leap,  all  the  barricades  in  the  far  comer,  and  with 
dishevelled  locks  and  flaming  cheeks  rushed  forward  and 
threw  herself  into  the  breach. 

"  You  shan't  touch  him — you  shan't,"  she  shrieked,  shril- 
ly. "  If  you  want  to  come  at  him,  you'll  have  to  tramp 
over  my  dead  bo-o-ones !" 

And  she  precipitated  herself,  howling,  upon  Ruthven 
Erie,  who,  all  unprepared  for  so  overwhelming  a  force,  had 
considerable  difficulty  in  preserving  his  equilibrium.  The 
rafters  rang  again  with  his  shout  of  uncontrollable  mirth, 
as  he  endeavored  to  shake  her  ofl",  while  a  dozen  of  the 
brave  of  the  sex,  emulating  her  zeal,  or  beginning  to  sus- 
pect a  joke,  pressed  round. 

Fadette  and  Amy,  in  blissful  ignorance  of  pistols  ever 
being  carried  in  boots,  stared,  unable  to  comprehend  the 
scene.  Mr.  Goodfellow  stood  aloof,  coolly  demanding  fair 
play,  and  checking  those  who  would  have  interfered.  Mr. 
Rutledge,  who  knew  Ruthven  Erie,  and  young  Thorne, 
who  knew  the  boots  and  their  innocence  of  pistols,  were 
perfectly  convulsed  with  laughter. 

At  this  juncture,  and  while  the  ten-ified  damsel's  screams 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  147 

yet  mingled  in  the  merriment,  entered  Miss  Charley,  who 
iiad  the  while  been  absent,  "  on  hospitable  thoughts  intent." 

With  one  or  two  imperative  questions  to  the  girls,  she 
elicited  a  dozen  contradictory  answers  in  a  breath,  from  all 
of  which  she  judged  nobody  knew  any  thing. 

"  There,  there,  that  will  do,"  she.said.  Then,  with  a  quick 
movement,  was  beside  the  howling  maiden,  ha.d  grasped 
her  by  the  shoulder,  and  with  one  swing  left  her  standing 
in  the  middle  of  the  room,  where  she  presently  tottered 
into  \\GY  2)rotege's  brandished  arms. 

"You — you — Thing!"  Charley  said,  contemptuously — 
"cannot  you  see  you  are  egging  them  on?  Mr.  Erie,  what 
is  this  all  about  ?     I  can  learn  the  truth  from  you." 

He  held  aloft  an  immense  spur  which  he  had  now  un- 
strapped. 

"Just  about  this.  Miss  Charley.  There  is  apparently 
some  mysterious  objection  to  my  relieving  myself  of  my 
spurs  to  dance.  I  do  assure  you,  young  ladies,  it  has  as . 
yet  slain  no  one  at  all.  But  if  ever  another  hundred-and- 
lifty  pounder  be  levelled  at  me,  I  won't  answer  for  the  con- 
sequences."    And  he  brandished  the  spur  threateningly. 

Charley's  hearty  laugh  set  an  example  all  followed.  The 
gallant  lieutenant  magnanimously  shook  hands  with  the 
knight  of  the  spur.  Peace  and  gayety  once  more  reigned, 
and  the  dance  proceeded^  until,  with  a  word  from  his 
daughter — 

"  Supper's  next  in  the  procram,  ladies  and  gentlemen," 
announced  Mr.  Goodfellow. 

"  Pro-cram,  indeed  !"  thought  Fadette,  taking  her  seat  at 
a  long  table,  between  the  numberless  dishes  of  which 
scarcely  could  a  glimpse  of  the  snowy  cloth  be  seen.  A 
haunch  of  venison ;  a  shoat  in  shining  broAvn  coat ;  huge 
wild-turkeys;  wild-goose;  teal-ducks;  partridges;  black- 
birds ;  great  white  or  yellow  sweet-potatoes,  of  which  two 


118  RAyDOLPH  HOXOR. 

filled  a  dish ;  cakes,  pies,  and  pyramids  of  sugar-candy ; 
biscuit  and  light-bread,  with  golden  piles  of  butter ;  pre- 
serves, and  cream  in  bright  glass  pitchers;  and  sparkling 
jellies  of  the  wild  Muscadine  grape,  flanked  by  decanters 
of  Muscadine  wine,  home-made, — were  all  ranged  there,  not 
without  a  certain  rude  tastefulness,  and  decorated,  where 
that  tastefulness.  admitted,  with  violets  and  roses  white  and 
red. 

"Xow,  gentlemen,"  Mr.  Goodfellow  said,  crossing  his 
arms  upon  the  table,  and  nodding  to  a  servant — "  now, 
gentlemen,  I'll  show  you  what's  what.  Here's  some  fine 
old  wine  our  kind  friend  Mr.  Grahame  sent  to  make  merry 
with.  Bor — Bor — well,  it  do  look  like  ducks,"  he  added, 
peering  sidelong  at  the  bottle  held  close  to  his  eyes;  "and 
•I  reckon  we'll  be  barking  up  the  nght  tree  if  Ave  drink  it 
W'ith  our  duck." 

Upon  the  host's  declaring  it  would  be  a  sin  to  take  such 
wine  just  as  if  it  were  persimmon  beer,  and  they  were 
ashamed  to  say  any  thing  about  it,  various  toasts  accom- 
panied ;  Mr.  Rutledge's — "  The  West,  where  the  wise  men 
followed  the  Lone  Star" — occasioning  three  times  three,  and 
the  very  original  j^roposal  from  a  shrill  youth,  to  "  take 
half-a-dozen  cheers  and  sit  down." 

TThen,  at  the  close  of  the  last  dance,  dawning  light  and 
chill  breeze  heralded  the  coming  sunrise,  Fadette,  wrapped 
in  a  warm  shawl,  paced  the  gallery  with  Ruthven  Erie. 
All  the  will-o'-the-wisp  sparkle  was  faded  from  her  eyes, 
she  looked  weary,  and  scarcely  tried  to  suppress  a  yawn. 
She  watched  those  dull  red  streaks,  wavering  between  the 
low  murky  line  of  cloudland  above,  foreboding  no  bright 
day,  and  the  low  murky  line  of  woodland  below,  to  which 
white  mists  rolling  up  gave  the  semblance  of  clouds. 
There  swept  over  her  the  memory  of  such  a  sunrise  once 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  149 

seen  from  the  deck  of  the  Louisiana,  nearing  Old  Point. 
Strange,  lier  heart  had  been  lighter  then,  she  sighed  un- 
consciously. 

"What  is  it?"  asked  Ruthven  Erie,  who  watched  her 

face. 

"Nothing— but —  Oh,  I  am  so  homesick,  Mr.  Erie  !"  she 
cried,  compressing  her  lip  in  the  effort  to  control  her 
tears,  and  that  painful  swelling  in  the  throat.  And  when 
he  drew  the  cold  little  trembling  hand  within  his  arm, 
holding  it  there  with  a  firm  and  tender  grasp,  she  turned 
away  her  head,  and  shivered  like  an  aspen-leaf. 

But  the  next  instant  she  put  a  strong  constraint  upon 
herself;  for  Miss  Goodfellow  had  approached,  walking  be- 
side Mr.  Thorne,  having  declined  his  arm. 

"  Let  me  deliver  up  your  escort,"  she  said  to  Fadette ; 
"  I  have  piloted  him  through  all  perils  to  the  haven  where 
he  would  be."     And  she  turned  to  answer  Mr.  Erie. 

"Good-morning,  Mr.  Thorne,"  Fadette  cried  gayly. 
"  But  are  you  sure  you  are  awake  ?  I  would  not  vouch  for 
you." 

" '  Eyes  grown  dim  with  gazing  on  the  pilot-star,'  "  he 
quoted  in  an  aside,  with  significant  shrug  toward  Charley. 

"  Fie  !  is  she  not  a  friend  of  yours  ?" 
•     "  Far  from  it.     A  friend  of  my  brother's.     I  am  a  com- 
parative stranger  in  the  county." 

"  Yes,"  said  Charley,  facing  round  with  an  amused  smile, 
which  at  once  set  Fadette  to  wondering  whether  she  could 
possibly  have  overheard  the  low-toned  colloquy.  "Mr.- 
Thorne  is  a  shove-out  from  Missouri.  So  renowned  a  jay- 
hawker  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  her  prairies—" 

"Miss  Charley!  Miss  Charley!"  interposed  Mr.  Erie, 
who  perceived  the  color  rising  angrily  in  his  friend's  bronzed 
cheek;  "will  you  then  never  learn  the  distinction  between 
partisan-leader  and  jayhawker?     And  is  it  needful  further 


150  BAXDOLPH  IIOyOR. 

to  inform  you  that  it  has  passed  into  a  byword  in  many  a 
Missouri  camp, 

'  Where  his  Honor  pricks, 
Let  that  aye  be  your  bound.'  " 

Young  Thorne  stole  a  gratified  though  embarrassed 
glance  at  Fadette.  She  surveyed  him  with  awakened  in- 
terest. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Thorne,  have  you  actually  been  a  partisan- 
leader?" 

He  bowed. 

"  And  not  one  adventure  given  me  ?  Do  you  know,  hav- 
ing brought  you  to  confession,  I  have  a  great  mind  to  make 
you  do  penance  by  now  and  here  beginning  at  the  very  be- 
ginning, instead  of  going  in  search  of  the  carriage,  which 
— Ah,  there  it  comes,  behind  my  uncle's !  Quite  a  throng 
in  front,  however,  so  you  have  space  to  tell  me  whether 
you  like  such  adventurous  warfare  better  than  that  accord- 
ing to  rule  ?" 

"Aye,  that  I  do,"  he  cried  enthusiastically.  "Since 
early  boyhood  I  have  passed  many  a  vaca — many  a  sum- 
mer— hunting  in  Kansas  and  the  Indian  nation,  and  the 
roving  life  has  become  a  second  nature." 

"  Endless  retrospect !"  cried  Charley  with  uplifted  hands 
to  Mr.  Erie.     "  Since  early  boyhood !     And  he  twenty  !" 

Ruthven  frowned  warningly  upon  the  scoffer  of  eighteen. 
And  while  Harry  Thorne,  somewhat  disconcerted  by  this 
running  commentary,  continued  to  tell  Fadette  how  he 
trusted  again  to  go  up  to  Missouri  when  the  leaves  should 
come  out,  and  scare  up  the  whole  country  at  the  head  of  the 
bushwhackers  whom  he  would  recruit  there,  Kuthven  said : 

"You  are  unjust.  Miss  Charley.  That  is  really  a  most 
gallant  young  fellow.  And  last  spring  he  was  beginning 
greatly  to  admire  you,  when  you  took  this  tone  T\4th  him." 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  151 

A  smile  just  curled  Miss  Charley's  red  lips.  It  came 
with  the  remembrance  of  an  episode  in  last  spring's  his- 
tory, of  an  eloquent  letter  penned  at  the  close  of  Harry 
Thome's  month's  visit  in  the  county,  and  of  its  answer,  in 
due  form : 

"Mr.  Thorne, 

I  remain, 

Charley  Goodfellow." 

She  said  carelessly : 

"What  matter?  He  will  do  himself  full  justice.  Has 
he  belittled  Jack  the  Giant-killer,  or  not  ?  Bushwhacking 
against  regular  service,  indeed  !  These  independents,  look- 
ing down  on  their  own  footprints  on  the  sand,  don't  see 
the  way  carved  on  the  rocks  above.  And  whatever  has 
been  said  or  sung  of  'footprints  in  the  sand,'  every  one 
knows  that  the  first  wave  washes  them  away.  So  it  is  as 
well  to  aid  in  hewing  the  rocky  highway,  though  it  keeps 
no  dint  of  passing  feet.    You  are  laughing  ?    You  think  I — " 

But  the  carriage  interrupted. 

Young  Thorne  claimed  Fadette,  nor  relented  for  all  Mr. 
Erie's  asseverations  that  the  bay  was  more  than  he  could 
manage — that  he  shuddered  before  the  perils  of  the  home- 
ward ride. 

"  The  consequences  of  being  in  such  hot  haste  to  step 
into  a  friend's  boots.  Retributive  justice,  I  see  it  sticking 
out  a  foot,"  cried  Harry  Thorne,  waving  his  cap  tri- 
umphantly as  he  assisted  Fadette  into  the  buggy. 


CHAPTER   XIII 


EYEXIXG   AT 


"  Conversation  between  friends  is  just  like  walking  thro'  a  mountainons  kintra — 
at  every  glen-month  the  wun"  blaws  frae  a  diflferent  airt — noo  heather-bank,  noo  a 
gruesome  quagmire." 

EtTKICK  SHEPfiERD. 


lOUSIX,  cousin,  they  done  come !"  cried  the  little 
Janet,  dancing  on  tiptoe,  into  Fadette's  dressing- 
room,  as  that  damsel  stood  surveying  herself  in 
the  Psyche-glass,  adjusting  her  dark  braids  for  the  last 
time,  while  her  admiring  maid  held  aloft  the  candelabrum, 
with  an  occasional  glance  at  her  own  dusky  reflection. 

"  Who  done  come,  sweet  thing?"  asked  Fadette,  turning, 
and  tossing  the  child  in  her  arms. 

"  Oh,  whole  hea^)  of  people.  Calling  across  the  lake 
now,  and  big  flat  gone  over  after  them  vdih  Cousin  Ru'. 
Come  down,  coz,  and  see.  ever  so  many  flowers  mamma 
done  put  in  the  library.    And  a  mighty  heap  of  light,  too  !" 

"All  right,  Irene?"  Fadette  asked,  as  her  maid,  with 
connoisseur  air,  smoothed  down  the  silken  folds  of  her  dress. 
Then  she  left  the  room,  clasping  the  tiny  outstretched  hand, 
and  followed  down-stairs  by  Janet's  small  playmate  and 
protegee,  who  afterward  hung  about  the  hall,  peeping  in  at 
the  doors,  all  expectancy  to  share  in  her  mistress's  play  and 
*'  pretties." 

"  How  perfectly  beautiful !"  exclaimed  Fadette  on  enter- 
ing the  library,  looking  first  at  Amy  and  then  at  the  flowers 
which  she  was  arranging  upon  the  table,  herself  a  fairer 


BANDOLPII  HOXOR.  153 

blossom,  in  her  white  rosebud  jirettiness  and  pale  violet 
dress. 

Mr.  Rutledge  laid  aside  his  paper,  and  came  forward  to 
assist  his  daughter  in  placing  the  vase  upon  the  mantel. 

"Do  you  belong  up  there,  too?"  he  asked,  pretending 
to  lift  her  next. 

She  laughed,  and  glided  behind  Fadette. 

"  Here  is  our  ornament,"  she  said,  putting  her  arm  round 
her  cousin's  waist. 

"Come  then,  Chicora,  here  is  your  opportunity  to  be 
looked  up  to." 

"  No,  I  thank  you,  Sir ;  no  lonely  heights  for  me.  I 
might  chance  to  follow  Hans  Andersen's  china  shepherdess, 
who  flung  herself  down — " 

".To  the  level  of  the  handsome  w^ooden  soldier  w^ho  fell 
in  love  witli  her,"  mischievously  interrupted  Amy. 

"Wooden — head  and  all?"  she  inquired  innocently. 

Her  uncle  drew  her  to  him,  and  said,  with  an  intermingling 
of  seriousness — 

"  Head,  heart,  and  all,  you  assume,  and  so  use  him  for 
target  practice,  eh  ?" 

She  put  up  her  hands  deprecatingly,  crying — 

^''Mafoi!  'Cupid  hath  clapped  him  o'  the  shoulder,  but 
I'll. warrant  him  heart-whole.'  " 

"  And  I  will  warrant,  since  we  wax  classic,  that 

*  H'  had  got  a  hurt 
O'  th'  inside,  of  a  deadlier  sort'  " 

"  Uncle  Rutledge !  What,  in  half  a  dozen  inter- 
views ?" 

"  Of  whom  are  you  speaking,  little  one  ?" 
"  Why,  of  Mr.  Thorne,  of  course.     Whom  else  ?" 
He  glanced  at  her,  then  quietly  took  a  cigar  from  the 
mantel,  and  proceeded  to  light  it,  saying  that  he  would  go 


154  RAXDOLPH  IIOXOR.  * 

down  to  the  lake  bank  and  see  what  our  young  delinquent 
had  done  with  the  flat  and  its  freight. 

Fadette,  as  he  went  out,  caught  Amy  by  the  waist,  and 
whirled  with  her  round  the  room,  humming  the  air  to  which 
she  kept  time. 

"  Oh,  what  would  I  not  give" —  throwing  herself  giddily 
into  an  easy-chair — "  for  a  bona  fide  old-time  ball !  Can 
Uncle  Wash  play  waltzes  ?  How  many  people  are  coming 
to-night  ?  A  dozen  or  two  ?  Do  you  know,  I  think  it  is 
the  most  charming  way  in  the  world  of  visiting.  I  only 
hope  they  will  stay  several  days — we  might  have  dancing 
enough  then.  Do  you  think  Wash  knows  any  thing  but 
those  everlasting  quadrilles  and  reels,  Amy  ?" 

"  I  dare  say.  But,"  she  added,  timidly,  "  if  I  were  you, 
I  M'ould  not  waltz." 

"  Xot  waltz  !     Are  you  daft  ?     Why  not  ?" 

"  Only,  people  object — " 

"  Who  are  '  people  ?' "  Fadette  asked,  leaning  forward 
anxiously.  "Does  your  mother — Uncle  Rutledge?  Be- 
cause, if  he — " 

"  Xo,  no.  Only  people  in  general — Ruthven,  for  in- 
stance," Amy  interposed,  hesitating  and  blushing, 

"  Is  that  all  ?"  Fadette  sank  back,  relieved.  "  Why,  my 
dear  child,  you  do  not  for  a  moment  imagine  I  shall  ask 
his  i^ermission  ?  Because  you,  good  soul  that  you  are,  glide 
along  in  his  leading-strings,  am  I  to  forget  to  walk  ?  Be- 
sides, methinks  both  you  and  I  waltzed  last  night  in  this 
very  room  with  the  identical  Ruthven." 

"  But  that  is  so  diiferent !"  remonstrated  Amy.  "  Be- 
sides, he  does  not  himself  think  any  thing  of  waltzing,  only 
of  the  way  in  which  some  people  regard  it." 

Fadette  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  There  is  the  lion  in  the  fairy-tale.  Amy.  If  you 
gang  your  ain  gate,  nor  swerve  because  of  its  threatening 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  155 

aspect,  you  will  be  very  apt  to  find  it  a  growl-less 
shadow." 

"Ah,  consiii  mine,"  cried  Amy,  "wait  only  mitil  some 
one  has  a  claim  on  your  dancing  !  Then  we  shall  see  inde- 
pendence !" 

"  And  did  you  not  dance  when  you  were  engaged  ?"  Fa- 
dette  asked,  quickly. 

"  That  was  so  short  a  time — the  war  had  already  com- 
menced, and  there  was  no  question  of  that." 

"  But — but — "  Fadette  said,  desperately,  the  guilty  color 
surging  to  her  brow — "  when — before — " 

She  broke  ofi",  ashamed  of  her  intention. 

Amy's  blushes  were  as  vivid. 

"  We  will  not  speak  of  that,  please,"  she  answered,  gen- 
tly. "  Though  not  a  year  has  passed,  it  is  but  a  dream — 
yet  a  somewhat  painful  one.  We  had  both  '  lightly  turned 
to  thoughts  of  love,'  and  both  had  to  learn  the  wide  gulf 
between  fancy  and  feeling.  That  he  first  saw  it,  was 
hardly  a  fault." 

"  But — "  began  Fadette,  flushed  and  indignant. 

Amy  stopped  her  with  a  kiss. 

"  Hush,"  she  said,  meeting  the  abashed  eyes  with  hers 
of  calm,  clear,  truthful  blue— "No  blows  aimed  at  my  kin- 
dred, you  Don  Quixote.  Vanity  suffered  from  a  scratch, 
that  is  all.  He  really  behaved  well,  save  and  except  the 
crime  of  falling  in  love  out  here.  And  w^ho  would  not  ab- 
solve him,  having  seen  Miss  Vaughan  ?" 

Fadette,  still  coloring  hotly,  hastened  to  resume  with 
forced  gayety : 

"  Well,  reve7ions  d  notre  mouton — we  won't  demoralize 
him — I,  for  one,  will  waltz  with  him  no  more." 

"  Oh  !  and  this  his  last  evening  !"  began  Amy,  distressed. 

"  There  !  there  is  the  click  of  the  front  gate.  Your  pret- 
tiest smile,  ma  bien-ai}7iee,  for  here  are  our  guests." 


156  RANDOLPH  HOXOB. 

"Amy,"  said  Mrs.  Rutledge,  entering  at  this  moment, 
"  go  into  your  father's  study,  my  child,  and  weigh  out  fif- 
teen grains  of  quinine  for  Candace.  Her  hus'band  is  there 
waiting  for  it." 

"  Is  she  much  sick.  Mamma  ?"  asked  Amy,  rising. 

"  Xot  very.  Xo  fever  when  I  was  in  the  quarter,  an 
hour  ago.  Make  the  quinine  into  j^ills,  Amy.  Servants 
are  so  bad  about  taking  it !" 

"  Let  me  go.  Aunt  Janet.  Indeed,  I  prefer  making  pills 
to  receiving  people,"  cried  Fadette,  vanishing  as- voices  and 
footsteps  sounded  upon  the  front  gallery. 

"  So !  caught  peeping !"  said  a  voice  behind  Fadette, 
when,  half  an  hour  later,  she  stood  without  upon  the  gal- 
lery, reconnoitring  through  the  window  the  scene  in  the 
parlor,  which  she  yet  hesitated  to  enter  alone. 

She  started. 

"  Why,  where  did  you  come  from  ?"  she  asked,  on  seeing 
Mr.  Erie. 

"  From  no  more  mysterious  retreat  than  yon  dark  corner 
of  the  gallery,  toward  which  you  did  not  think  fit  to  glance. 
May  I  ask  what  your  ladyship  is  doing  here  ?" 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Erie  !  You  must  go 
with  me  into  the  parlor.  I  have  been  dreading  it  alone. 
I  scarcely  know  any  one  there." 

"  Is  the  bashful,  then,  your  role  to-night  ?" 

"A  most  uncomfortable  one.  Don't  you  think  some  in- 
ventive genius  should  benevolently  devote  himself  to  a 
patent  for  launching  people  into  drawing-rooms  ?  I  can 
float  on  wave  or  calm  of  conversation  with  other  small 
craft,  but  as  to  getting  there !" 

"  I'll  launch  you,  then.  For  what  harbor  will  you  have 
me  steer?" 

"Tell  me  first  who  are  here.      My  ideas  of  Arkansas 


RANDOLPn  nONOB.  157 

society  are  completely  upset.  I  had  taken  one  backwoods 
bull  as  the  criterion,  but  the  backwoods,  it  seems,  end  here." 

"  Of  course.  Stay,  there  is  a  group  you  know— Miss 
Vaughan  and  Charley  Goodfellow,  and  *  Bella,  horrida 
Bella !'" 

"  Is  not  Mr.  Thorne  come  ?" 

"Look  again— next  Amy's  sofa.  Shall  we  bear  down 
upon  them  ?" 

"  That  would  be  an  idea !  Let  us  go  to  Miss  Charley 
Goodfellow,"  she  said. 

She  moved  forward,  and  he  gave  her  his  arm.  They 
reached  the  hall-door— and  passed  it.  He  drew  her  on 
silently. 

"  Well !"  she  exclaimed,  after  a  short  pause  of  astonish- 
ment. 

"What  is  the  nse?"  he  asked,  coolly  continuing  the 
walk.  "  Who  will  miss  us  in  ten  minutes  ?  Xo,  do  not 
loiter  by  the  windows." 

"  Then  are  you  furnished  with  a  topic  so  engrossing  that 
it  shall  render  me  oblivious  of  them  ?" 

"  Xot  while  you  glance  thus  toward  them,  and  let  the 
music  creep  in  between  my  words.  I  am  in  dire  fear  lest, 
if  my  topic  interest  not,  you  flit  away." 

Her  eyes  fell  on  the  gleaming  lake,  and  the  island  lying 
darkly  silent,  the  trees  at  the  point  throwing  quivering 
shadows  half  across. 

"  How  strangely  far  thoughts  journey  with  a  word  !"  she 
said.  "  I  seemed  to  stand  again,  as  I  stood  a  year  ago  last 
fall,  upon  the  shores  of  a  Swiss  lake,  an  island  thus  on  its 
bosom.  Only,  there  through  the  oaks  the  moon  streamed 
on  a  rudely  painted  wall  which  pictured  a  memory  of  Tell, 
and  a  gray  ruin  gloomed  from  the  island,  down  on  sweet 
Lake  Lowerz.  Thus,  when  my  guardian  spoke  as  you  but 
now,  I  cried :  A  legend,  then— a  legend  !" 


158  BAXDOLFH  HOXOR. 

"  And  you  think  Arkansas  can  furnish  none  ?" 

"  I  do  indeed,  since  the  first  settlers  here  are  still  middle- 
aged.     Tales,  like  wines,  improve  with  age." 

"Then  mine  shall  be  antediluvian.  Will  you  let  me 
wander  to  a  distance  for  its  beginning,  assured  that  I  will 
bring  you  safely  here  at  last  ?  Listen,  then — we'll  put 
Swiss  tradition  to  the  blush. 

"  You  knoAV  how,  scores  of  centuries  ago,  over  this  world 
pale  faces  call  the  new,  the  Great  Spirit  brooded  with 
outstretched  golden  wings,  above  his  nest  in  the  Red  Quar- 
py  of  the  north.  On  a  sudden,  through  the  deep  tranquil- 
lity, in  the  glory  which  his  wings  shed  on  the  earth,  his 
eagle  glance  descried  the  slippery  folds  of  a  mighty  serpent 
coiling  toward  the  nest.  The  Great  Spirit  swooped  down- 
ward, and  his  talons  wrenched  away  a  fragment  of  the  red 
pipe-stone,  and  hurled  it  at  the  treacherous  reptile.  In  the 
crash,  some  pebbles  fell  away  from  the  mass,  and  struck 
the  serpent's  writhing  tail,  and  rattled,  as  he  would  have 
slunk  away.  From  that  moment  he  and  his  numerous  pro- 
geny have  never  glided  toward  their  prey  without  that 
warning  rattle.  But  the  mass  of  stone  descended  to  the 
cliff  below,  and  in  the  fall,  was  shapen  to  the  semblance  of 
the  red-man.  The  Great  Spirit  beheld,  and  grieving  that 
he  should  stand  there  solitary,  cast  down  another  frag- 
ment— thus  man  and  woman  stood  together  on  the  rock. 
A  glittering  feather  with  that  movement  floated  from  his 
wings,  and  woman  and  the  sun  were  given  to  the  earth 
together.  But  the  sun  sank  behind  the  distance,  and  the 
Great  Spirit  winged  his  way  so  high  within  his  nest  of 
clouds,  that  only  through  the  meshes  flashed  those  gleam- 
ing plumes,  in  sparkles  we  call  stars.  And  while  the  world 
lay  in  midnight,  the  wily  serpent  crept  again  along  the 
cliff,  and  with  revengeful  fangs  giiawed  and  gnawed  the 
feet  of  the  two  beings  fastened  there,  and  prostrated  them 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  159 

sifle  by  side.  But  in  the  moment  that  the  smi  arose  and 
touclied  them  with  his  vivifying  rays,  they  rose  up  too,  and 
wandered  hand  in  hand  together. 

"  They  reached  the  river's  marge,  and  there,  within  the 
glow  upon  the  water,  tossed  a  light  canoe  of  birchen  bark. 
Within'it  lay,  as  fair  as  any  Indian  Mandan  maid,  one  with 
gold  hair  streaming  over  her  slight  form,  and  blue  eyes 
fixed  upon  them,  beckoning  them  on.  Thus,  for  centuries, 
this  Spirit  of  the  red-men's  fortune  led  the  tribes  to  and 
fro  along  their  great  rivers,  from  time  to  time  appearing  to 
them.  But  when  contention  rose  upon  the  sacred  ground 
of  the  Red  Quarry,  where  the  Great  Spirit  had  smoked  the 
.pipe  of  peace  above  the  hunter-tribes,  she  paled  and  paled 
away,  and  beckoned  to  her  favored  Mandans,  guiding  them 
from  the  Ohio's  shores,  on  and  up  the  turbulent  Missouri. 
Then  they  never  saw  her  more.  She  had  heard  afar  the 
white  man's  tread  upon  the  hallowed  spot  the  red-man  first 
profaned  with  blood,  and  as  he  trampled  on  that  stone  from 
which  the  Great  Spirit  had  created  the  red-man,  and  which 
was  therefore  flesh  of  the  Indian's  flesh,  thus  trodden  under 
foot,  she  could  foresee  the  fate  of  all  those  warrior-tribes  in 
years  to  come.  So  the  light  canoe  turned  back  away,  and 
floated  down  the-  stream  again.  Groups  of  hunters  on  the 
blufts  caught  now  and  then  the  flash  of  her  bright  hair,  the 
gleam  offier  blue  eyes,  and  would  have  followed,  as  of  old. 
But  evermore  she  waved  them  back  again,  seeing  with 
prophetic  vision  how  the  pale-face  race  would  press  them 
westward,  from  their  ancient  mounds  and  hunting-grounds. 

"  She  reached  the  rushing  current  of  the  Mississippi. 
Down  she  floated  still,  and  here — aye,  in  this  very  lake — 
was  seen  of  mortal  man  for  the  last  time. 

"  A  wondrous  while  she  had  been  drifting  down,  some- 
times so  slowly,  that  to  know  that  she  had  moved  at  all, 
one  must  have  watched  for  years  on  years.     But  now  at 


160  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

leimth,  one  moonlit  niorlit  like  this,  the  strange  bark  entered 
this  cove,  then  but  a  bend  in  the  great  river.  For  the  nar- 
row fields  which  now  divide  the  waters  from  the  waters, 
were  then  but  gradually  gaining  ground. 

"This  lake  was  one  vast  gleaming  crescent,  when  the 
boat  glided  slowly  along  that  island's  further  shor^.  She 
lay  within  it,  motionless.  The  eyes  which  had  guided  like 
the  pilot-stars  so  long,  were  waning  faint  and  dim,  as  if 
their  watch  was  over.  The  hand  so  long  stretched  out  to 
point  the  way,  was  lying  listless  at  her  side.  The  golden 
hair  was  fading  like  the  Indian's  day.  Yet  still  its  radiance 
outshone  the  moon,  and  as  she  passed  the  bank,  flung  a 
glory  on  the  ripples. 

"  Beneath  the  oaks  cresting  yonder  point  of  the  island, 
lounged  at  rest  a  group  of  men.  Sombreros  shaded  here  a 
bronzed  French  or  Spanish  countenance,  and  there  a  florid 
Saxon.  The  singular  haphazard  air  of  the  men's  dress, 
which  yet  was  often  rich,  and  sometimes  splendid,  had 
much  of  incongruity  with  these  wild  solitudes.  Against  that 
thorn-tree,  glossy  in  the  moonbeams,  flashed  a  stand  of  car- 
bines. And  here  Avas  moored  a  richly-laden  flatboat.  AVho 
its  crew,  or  where,  might  not  be  known,  but  blood-stains 
darkled  oh  the  planks,  and  less  than  a  seer,  with  knowledge 
of  these  waters,  would  have  cried:  A  part  of  Macon's  ban- 
ditti— who  lay  in  wait  for  venturous  craft  bouiM  to  the 
Gulf 

"  Meantime,  the  enchanted  bark  skimmed  on.  But  that 
golden  gleam  had  touched  the  dreamful  lids  of  one  who 
lay  beneath  the  trees.  Up  he  sprang,  and  with  a  shout 
awoke  the  echoes.  For  far  more  beautiful  than  any  dream, 
she  passed. 

"  He  leaned  out  toward  her,  but  she  never  turned  to  look 
on  him.  And  then  while  all  his  comrades  started  up  to 
watch,  he  struck  out  boldly  into  the  waves  in  her  wake. 


RANDOLPH  IIONOB.  161 

"  There — midway  from  the  point — where  that  weird 
bough  up-chitches  like  a  skeleton  arm,  he  gained  on  the 
canoe — was  stretching  forth  to  grasp — 

"  The  fading  eyes  turned  then.  From  out  their  depths 
swept  one  last  fire  of  vengeance  on  the  usurpers  of  the  red- 
man's  lands.  It  scathed  him  where  he  rose.  A  shriek 
appalled  the  night.  And  down  he  sank,  down,  down — the 
waters  whelmed  him  fast — and  of  the  ruthless  bandit  there 
remained  but 'that  wild  arm  outstretched  to  clutch  the 
empty  waves  forevermore — that  arm  shrivelled  and  en- 
chanted to  the  semblance  of  a  blasted  branch.  On  glided 
the  canoe,  close  by  the  shores  of  this  fair  chute,  while  the' 
robbers  stood  there,  horror-struck." 

"  Horror-struck !  I  should  think  so  !  You  have  made  me 
as  much  afraid  of  the  moonbeams  as  of  the  dark,"  she  cried, 
with  a  playfully  afiected  shiver. 

He  laughed,  and  stopped  before  the  window. 

" Eeconnoitre,  then,"  he  rejoined,  "and  we  will  go  in." 

"Mr.  Erie,  what  a  lovely  tableau  !"  Fadette  cried,  as  her 
glance  wandered  round  the  room. 

His  followed,  to  where,  in  the  bow-wdndow  oj^posite,  sat 
a  very  pretty  girl  blushingly  listening  to  the  low  speech  of 
a  very  young  soldier. 

"  You  do  not  know  her  ?"  he  asked.  "  It  is-  Miss  Eva 
Leigh,  twentieth  cousin  to  her  fiance^  in  whom  you  have 
doubtless  recognized  the  younger  brother  of  your  Mr. 
Thorne.  Both  brothers,  beardless  knights  as  they  are,  have 
fairly  won  their  spurs  under  our  glorious  Price.  This  one 
was  almost  brought  up  in  the  family  of  his  cousin,  who  is 
also  his  guardian.  You  see  a  rare  instance  of  boy  and  girl 
attachment  standing  the  test  of  separation.  *  Rather  a  short 
test  as  yet,  however." 

While  Fadette  stood  embarrassed,  as  if  these  last  words 
were  spoken  in   direct   reference   to   herself,   the   curtain 


162  RANDOLPH  HOXOR 

shaflowing  her  ftice  was  drawn  aside,  and  Miss  Goodfellow 
tnrned  in  merry  indignation  upon  I^utliven  Erie. 

"  Tliere,  there,"  she  cried ;  "  why  sliould  you  take  it  for 
granted  every  pumpkin's  empty,  because  there's  never  a 
seed  in  your  head  to  rattle  ?  AVhen  you  do  slip  up  on  one 
that  is  really  mellowing  in  the  sun,  must  you  throw  your 
shadow  over,  and  wonder  what  is  gone  with  the  sun- 
shine ?" 

Euthven  laughed. 

"You  a  believer  in  that  sunshine.  Miss  Charley?"  he 
said. 

"  It  is  rather  a  new  wi'inkle  in  me,"  she  returned,  care- 
lessly throwing  her  arm  over  the  back  of  her  chair. 

"  And  how  came  you  ensconced  here  in  this  pussy-wants- 
a-corner  fashion  ?"  he  inquired. 

Charley  held  up  to  view  a  newspaper,  then  let  it  fall  again 
at  her  side. 

"  Ours  miscarried  this  week,"  she  said.  "  Ah,  Mr.  Erie, 
that  affair  of  Dranesville !  Should  it  not  warn  us  that  a 
tallow-candle  has  been  driven  through  heart  of  oak  by  put- 
ting abundance  of  powder  behind  ?  AVe  need  all  our  bark 
to  the  fore,  to  keep  off  the  bite  of  even  beetles." 

Euthven  Erie  threw  down  upon  the  window-seat  the 
cards  he  ha'd  taken  from  it,  idly  shuffling  them. 

"  It  is  a  game,"  he  said,  in  which  clubs  are  trumps.  Ours 
are  skilfully  played,  and  if  we  hold  not  too  few — " 

"  You  do  not  fear,  surely !" 

"  For  ultimate  freedom,  never.  But  the  hand  in  which  I 
figure  as  deuce  of  clubs,  may  possibly  be  j^layed  out  before 
the  game  is  ours." 

"  Mr.  Erie,  have  you  thought  so  from  the  first  ?"  cried 
Fadette. 

''  From  the  first.     You  are  surprised  ?     You  would  not 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  1 G3 

have  me  stand  still,  well-preserved  as  ^Madame  Lot,  through 
lookiiio'  behind  for  flames  which  mio-ht  follow?" 

"  No,  no — eyes  to  the  front !"  cried  Charley,  while  her 
own,  which  had  been  roving  from  grou})  to  group,  returned 
to  jiim  with  a  sparkle  of  humor.  "  Only  see — a  desperate 
flirtation,  is  it  not  ?  Miss  Arabella  is  in  the  midst  of  a  de- 
tailed account  of  the  battle  of  Oak  Hill,  to  Harry  Thorne, 
who  "was  in  it." 

Fadette  caught  Mr.  Thome's  quizzical  appeal. 

"Why  does  no  one,"  she  said,  "make  her  see  the  ab- 
surdity of  those  disquisitions  ?" 

Charley  smiled,  throwing  herself  back,  and  folding  her 
arms  in  manly  fashion. 

"  No  one  has  ever  yet  made  spectacles  for  those  born 
blind,"  she  rejoined. 

"Miss  Arabella,"  said  Mr.  Erie,  "attends  the  auction- 
rooms  of  everybody's  mind,  brings  away  for  new  some 
worn-out  idea — a  stool  minus  a  leg,  perhaps — and  having 
thus  crammed  her  OAvn  narrow  parlor,  urges  the  invitation 
of'the  spider  to  the  fly.  And,  in  good  sooth,  you  ne'er  come 
out  again." 

"  Then  don't  let  her  trap  yon.  Miss  Goodfellow,  for  w^e 
are  coming  in  to  you  this  moment,"  besought fFadette,  and 
moved  from  the  window. 

"  Cards  ?  Certainly  I  can  find  them,"  said  Mrs.  Rutledsfe, 
w^hen  her  husband,  wdth  another  whist-table  in  demand, 
came  to  her  as  she  stood  for  a  moment  in  the  doorw^av : 
"but  stay,  Hugh — look  there,  did  you  ever  see  anything 
like  that?" 

Mr.  Rutledge  followed  her  gesture  to  the  bow-wdndow, 
where  near  Miss  Arabella  sat  Fadette,  in  converse  with  Mr. 
Thorne.     Ruthven  Erie,  in  passing,  had  stopped  and  rested 


164  RAXDOLPH  nOXOR 

his  arm  on  the  back  of  Fadctte's  sofa,  and  she  turned  from 
the  one  to  the  other  with  arch  smile  and  merr^^  words,  ap- 
parently not  without  their  sting  of  sarcasm,  for  Erie's  color 
rose  slightly  even  as  he  laughed. 

"  As  arrant  a  little  flirt  as  ever  made  a  plaything  of  a 
heart,"  Mr.  Rutledge  said,  looking  on  with  an  almost  smile 
of  satisfaction. 

"Since  you  judge  so,"  she  rejoined  rather  sharply,  "what 
do  you  think  she  purposes  to  do  with  those  two  ?  Fling 
them  aside  for  a  later  toy  ?" 

Mr.  Rutledge  wheeled  round,  whistling  low. 

"  What,  nepotism  in  a  nineteenth  century  materfamilias ! 
Rely  upon  it,  my  Janet,  our  fairy  is  very  far  from  giving  a 
thought  to  ends,  or  ways  either.  She  smiles  because  she  is 
gay,  not  because  she  has  white  teeth  and  a  dimple.  She 
jibes  because  her  gayety  will  out,  not  because  it  will  out 
in  laughter-moving  words.  At  all  events,  you  need  not 
fear  for  Erie.  He  sees  what  he  is  about,  and  will  never 
sufier  himself  to  be  hoodwinked.  She  has  not  the  faintest 
suspicion  of  his  feelmg — if  indeed  it  have  existence  out  of 
your  imagination,  which  oftentimes  I  doubt.  Watch  him 
now,  he  has  piqued  her  into  reverting  to  young  Thorne,  and 
himself  saunt>ers  off  with  the  most  j^erfect  nonchalance  to 
Miss  Yaughan." 

"  He  is  no  fool,  that  is  one  consolation,"  she  returned, 
mollified. 

"  And  she  no  fool-catcher.  I  read  a  lecture  in  your  eyes : 
deliver  it,  and  you  open  hers  to  her  game.  She  were  no 
girl  if  she  laid  no  snare,  then." 

"Truth  does  people  good,  Hugh." 

"  Sometimes.  But  it  would  not  be  at  the  bottom  of  the 
well  if  intended  for  every-day  consumption.  Xot  so  jjalat- 
able  as  the  upper  current  brimming  over  for  passers-by. 
Causes  wry  faces,  unless  very  much  adulterated." 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  165 

She  smiled.     "  You  once  said  you  married  me  for  it  " 

"Aye— 

"  *  Keek  into  the  draw-well,  Janet,  Janet, 
And  ye'll  see  your  bonn}^  sell, 
^^y  jo,  Janet.'  " 

"  Ding,  dong  !  Ding,  dong  !  Won't  this  one  plantation 
belle  entirely  fill  Beauregard's  requisition  for  bell-metal? 
To  a  dead  certainty  it  would  silence  the  enemy's  batteries. 
If  they  did  not  cave  in,  they  are  made  of  stern  stuff  indeed. 
In  pity,  let  us  have  a  change  of  tune.     Will  you  not  sing?" 

This  was  Mr.  Thome's  aside  to  Fadette,  during  a  hiatus 
in  Miss  Grahame's  conversation. 

Fadette  slightly  shook  her  head,  drawing  down  the  cor- 
ners of  her  mouth  until  they  became  expressive  of  the  most 
despairing  despair.  But  as,  at  that  moment,  Mr.  Rutledge 
pityingly  drew  near,  inviting  the  belle  to  a  hand  at  euchre, 
Fadette  rose  at  Mr.  Thome's  renewed  request,  and  took  her 
place  at  the  piano. 

"  Choose  for  me,  Mr.  Thorne,"  she  said. 

"  That  is  diificult.  I  have  one  pre-eminent  favorite  as  to 
air,  but  the  words  are  barbarous." 

"  And  that  is —  ?"  she  questioned. 

"The  Virginia  Rosebud." 

She  paused  a  little. 

"Ah,"  she  said,  with  slightly  heightened  color,  "I  see 
our  tastes  are  similar.  The  words  are  as  you  say.  But  a 
friend  wrote  others  for  me,  which,  not  remarkable  in  them- 
selves,*render  the  air  available.  If  they  are  lugubrious, 
you  deserve  that  for  having  so  nearly  forced  me  into  mal  d 
propos  laughter.  But  there  should  be  a  national  hymn  to 
this.     Is  it  not  glorious  in  its  full-toned  variety  ?" 

And  she  began : 

November  winds  through  darksome  pines  are  sweeping, 
That  stand  up  sternly  o'er  the  mountains  bleak— 


166  RA2sD0LPH  UOyOR. 

November  clouds  in  sullen  gusts  are  weeping — 

The  dying  year  wails  out  her  lone  death-shriek : 
The  stars  no  longer  watch  above  are  keeping, 

But  watch-fires  flicker  in  yon  glen  below : 
'Neath  Heaven's  tent  our  weaiy  boys  are  sleeping, 

While  some  keep  vigil  in  the  drifting  snow. 
Glad  thoughts,  sad  thoughts,  they  come  and  fle©  away 
Around  those  fires,  ere  dawns  the  battle-day. 
Far  voices  of  loved  ones  are  whispering  near ; 
Soft  eyes,  soft  ej-es  are  smiling,  through  the  night — through  the 
chilly  midnight  drear. 
Dreams — dreams — dreams — on  the  blast ; 
Hopes — hopes — hopes — flitting  ftist. 
All  brightly  Glorj-'s  visions  throng. 
And  Freedom's  shout  resoundeth  strong 
Above  the  deepening  tempest-shocks. 
In  lingering  echoes  of  the  rocks : 
To  arms  I — To  anns  ! — To  arms  for  Libert^^ ! 


All  hushed  in  camp — except,  as  time  is  wealing, 

Is  given  the  challenge  low,  or  countersign : 
Anon,  where  redly  are  the  fires  flaring. 

The  guard,  relieved,  is  marching  in  a  line. 
The  snow-drifts  whitely  in  the  glen  are  lying — 

Yon  lurid  pine-tree  flames  athwart  the  sky : 
To-morrow,  ere  the  twilight  faint  is  dying, 

Shall  silent  coi-ses  there  so  ghastly  lie. 
Red  flames,  red  gore,  shall  flood  that  valley  white. 

Around  those  fires,  ere  falls  the  battle-night. 
Low  moans  of  the  wounded  shall  wail  on  the  ah* — 
Quick  gasps,  quick  gasps  and  deathly — broken  words — broken 
words  of  death-taught  prayer.  • 

Death — death — death — on  the  blast ; 
Souls — souls — souls — flitting  fast. 

Yet  Freedom,  though  in  tears  she  stands, 

Still  stretches  forth  unfettered  hands, 

And  clear  alarum  sounds  on  high, 

For  freemen,  on  to  do  or  die ! — 
To  arms ! — To  arms  I — To  arms  for  Liberty ! 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  167 

"Where  did  your  eousin  learn  that  song,  Amy?"  was 
asked,  as  the  clear,  mellow  tones  died  away. 

"  The  tune  is  an  old  negro  melody,  the  '  Virginia  Rose- 
bud.'    The  words  are  her  own." 

"  Her  own  ? — seriously.  Amy  ?" 

"  Seriously.  Is  it  possible  that  you,  with  your  keen  sight 
and  your  horror  of  the  has  hleu^  should  never  once  have 
caught  a  glimpse  of  it,  beneath  the  modishly  long  robe?  I 
shall  tell  her." 

"  Xo,  you  will  not.     Is  this  all  she  has  perpetrated  ?" 

"  Fie,  Ruthven  !  What  would  you  give  for  a  peep  into 
her  portfolio  ?  Xay,  you  would  have  to  steal  it,  or  enforce 
it  as  I  did.     A  novel — " 

"  Entitled,  The  Lonely  Heart,  or  The  Sorrows  of  a  Young 
Governess,"  Mr.  Erie  teasingly  suggested. 

"Nonsense.  There  are  bemoanings,  certainly,  but  the 
young  governess  is  replaced  by  a  Scottish  waif  in  Switzer- 
land. You  know  they  are  not  untrodden  ways  to  her, 
those  that  wind  beside  the  mountain  lakes.     The  hero — " 

"  Aye,  the  hero — what  is  his  style  ?" 

Erie  was  thinking  of  Heine's  assertion;  "When  they 
write,  they  have  always  one  eye  on  the  paper  'and  another 
on  a  man ;  and  this  is  true  of  all  authoresses,  except  the 
Countess  Hahn  Hahn,  who  has  only  one  eye." 

Therefore,  as  Fadette  indubitably  possessed  two,  and 
those  of  the  brightest.  Amy's  answer  was  disconcerting : 

"His  style?  Well — like  the  generality — perhaps  her 
guardian — nearly  his  age,  I  should  suppose.  But  stay, 
where  are  you  going  ?  Remember,  all  this  is  a  secret  in- 
violable.    I  had  no  right  to  tell  even  you." 

Moodily  he  was  standing  apart  in  the  doorway,  half  an 
hour  later,  when  Fadette,  whom  he  had  scarcely  ceased  to 
watch,  passed  by.     And  as  no  vestige  of  the  has  hleu  was 


168  RANDOLPH  UOXOR. 

to  be  descried,  he  asked  her  to  walk  with  him  upon  the 
gallery. 

She  took  his  arm  as  they  fell  in  behind  the  few  already 
promenading  there.  For  a  moment  neither  spoke,  until  he 
broke  the  silence  with  a  remark  upon  the  beauty  of  the 
night. 

The  stars,  so  large  and  full,  so  steadily  luminous  in  the 
clear  Southern  atmosj^here,  threw  a  dozen  gleaming  bridges 
lialf  across  the  lake.  One,  far  out-shining  all  the  others,  so 
spanned  the  waters  with  redly  golden  beams,  that  her 
thoughts  wandered  across  it  to  waves  she  had  seen  glint- 
ing thus  before — to  other  oaks  which  fringed  their  distant 
shore — to  red-gold  lights  from  vessels  passing  there.  Thence 
transit  was  rapid  to  her  guardian. 

'"  Do  they  see  the  stars  in  prison,  Mr.  Erie  ?"  she  asked. 

He  smiled,  replying — 

"Rather  an  indefinite  question.  Sometimes,  if  'they' 
seek  them  through  the  bars.     I  could."    . 

"  You  ?     Were  you  ever  in  prison  ?" 

His  assent  came  slowly  and  hesitatingly. 

"  When  ?   Where  ?"  was  the  eager  inquiry. 

" '  Since  yestreen,  captive  to  thy  conquering  eyes,' "  he 
promptly  quoted. 

She  drooped  the  "  conquering  eyes,"  vexed. 

"  Pshaw !  how  provoking  you  are  !  I  never  can  tell  what 
you  mean." 

"Devoutly  thankful,"  was  the  mental  rejoinder.  And 
he  added,  aloud — 

"Xor  I  what  you  mean.  Do  you  wish  to  establish  a 
courier  line  of  meteors  between  yourself  and  some  pris- 
oner ?" 

She  did  not  reply,  only  saying,  after  a  pause — 

"  Look  at  that  tiny  star-spark.  Could  you  be  content 
with  such  insignificance  among  so  many  greater  ?" 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  109 

"  Such  is  my  fate,  however." 

She  turned,  for  there  was  unwonted  earnestness  in  his 
tone. 

"  I  do  not  think  so,  Mr.  Erie.  There  is  nothing  little 
about  you,"  she  answered,  warmly. 

"  Granted,  for  myself,"  he  mocked ;  "  but  my  sphere  ?" 

"  Why  should  you  not  rise  as  high  as  any  there  ?"  And 
she  raised  her  hand  toward  the  glittering  heavens. 

"  To  have  one  day  inscribed  above  me,  *  As  he  rose  like  a 
rocket,  he  fell  like  the  stick.' " 

"  Ah,  Mr.  Erie,  the  rocket  only  seems  to  rise  to  the  stars. 
The  stars  shine  on  forever,  though  clouds  or  distance  hide 
them." 

"  But,  fair  my  Astrologer,  are  not  your  ideas  of  grandeur 
somewhat  vague  ?  What  is  ambition  ?  How  may  one  rise 
in  your  horizon  ?" 

"  I  know  my  thoughts  are  crude,"  she  returned,  blush- 
ing; "therefore  I  give  my  faith  in  another's  words."  And 
she  repeated,  hesitatingly : 

" '  Whoso  in  life's  task  hath  taken 
Gloiy  for  a  worthy  goal, 
Hath  for  a  light  dream  forsaken 
True  magnificence  of  soul. 

Think  it  then  nor  shame  nor  pity 
That  no  crowds  applaud  thy  name : 

Strive  on--saye  the  leaguered  city, 
Though  another  reap  the  fame. 

So  thy  people  reap  the  harvest, 

LittleTecks  who  cast  the  seed: 
Guerdon  high  as  tliou  deservest 

Dwells  in  thine  own  holy  deed.' "  • 

"  You  are  right,"  he  said,  earnestly ;  *'  a  man  may  not  now 
make  pause  to  listen  for  applause  or  for  censure.     If  the 

8 


IVO  RAXDOLPJI  HOXOR 

cries  and  groans  from  the  beleaguered  city — if  the  watch- 
word "  ingemisco"  wailed  in  midnight  from  her  walls — if 
the  cloud  which  shrouds  her,  rent  by  flames  that  scale  the 
very  heavens  for  redress — fill  not  his  hearing,  shut  not  out 
all  other  goal  than  her  salvation — then  is  his  ambition  the 
poor  rocket  flaring  up  the  skies,  which,  fallen,  the  press 
shall  trample  back  into  the  dust.  '  Strive  on — save  the 
leaguered  city.'  But  remember,  when  the  city  shall  be 
free,  and  Ruthven  Erie's  mark  hacked  by  an  unknown 
sword  upon  her  broken  chains — remember  to-night,  and 
think  not  strange  if  one  come  to  you  for  yet  another  inter- 
pretation of  the  guerdon,"  he  added,  sinking  his  voice  very 
low.  "  Or" — and  at  the  word,  voice  and  manner  changed 
to  careless  badinage — "  should  I  folloAV  in  the  wake  of  the 
reapers,  gleaning  here  an  ear  and  there  a  grain  of  the  har- 
vest I  have  neither  reaped  nor  sown,  is  there  no  hope  that 
those  bright  eyes  may  overlook  some  earth-stain  gathered 
where  those  gleanings  have  by  the  reapers  been  cast  aside 
and  trodden  under  foot  ?  The  gleaners  in  this  world  are 
more  in  number  than  the  reapers,  and  their  rejoicings  noisier 
over  the  spoils." 

"  Xow  I  see,"  she  returned,  good-humoredly,  "  you  have 
been  laughing  all  this  while.  However,  to  my  comfort  be 
it  remembered,  I  have  not  advanced  one  original  idea ;  and 
if  laugh  you  must,  it  shall  be  at  the  philosophy  of  an 
authority  able  to  endure  it.  But  a  truce  to  ambition. 
Beauty  instead.  Did  you  ever  see  any  one  so  heavenly 
beautiful  as  Miss  Yaughan  to-night  ?" 

"  Heavenly — yes.  A  very  bird  of  paradise.  But  some — 
of  the  earth,  earthy — ^might  prefer  the  little  earth-loving 
partridge  to  this 

" '  Creature /«/•  too  bright  and  good 
For  human  nature's  daily  food.' " 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  171 

"  That  is  because,"  Fadette  returned,  "  the  one  soars  far 
beyond  reach,  while  the  other  flatters  the  vanity  of  man  by 
forever  calling  on  '  Bob  White,  Bob  White  !' " 

"  What  boots  it  to  spend  life  in  laying  traps  for  that 
which  never  stoops  low  enough  to  be  snared  ?" 

"  Mr.  Erie,  you  do  not  say  that  sincerely.  The  motto 
of  your  sex  is,  '  She  is  a  woman,  therefore  may  be  won.' 
And  besiegers  are  vigilant  in  detecting  weakness  in  the 
walls  of  defence." 

"  Nay ;  but,"  he  responded,  "  weakness  is  woman's  forte, 
within  which  she  is  safe." 

"  A  better  pun  than  safeguard,"  she  made  answer.  "  In 
life,  as  in  our  game  of  chess  last  evening,  when  one  can  no 
longer  queen  it,  half  the  game  is  lost." 

"  And  do  you  reck  nothing  of  the  knight  ?"  he  asked. 

"  All,  all,  so  long  as  he  defends  his  queen." 

"  May  I  ask  a  very  impertinent  question  ?" 

"  Provided  you  do  not  stipulate  for  an  answer." 

"  The  queen  has  two  knights,  of  course.  I  claim  to  be 
one.     Has  she  chosen  the  other?" 

The  words  were  light,  but  the  tone  thrilled  her  as  she 
listened.  She  looked  up  quickly — to  cast  her  eyes  down 
as  rapidly,  before  the  searching  of  his.  But  at  that  instant 
Matoaca's  low  musical  melancholy  laugh  was  borne  from 
the  further  end  of  the  gallery.  Fadette's  face  changed, 
and  something  of  scorn  curled  her  lip,  as  she  replied : 

"  You  must  ask  her.     I  cannot  tell." 

"  I  ask  her  now.     Have  you  chosen  the  other  ?" 

"  Oh,  I  ?     Of  course." 

"  And  his  name  ?  Is  it  Thorne  ?  Sandford  ?  Randolph  ? 
Has  your  guardian — " 

She  laughed  merrily. 

"  Do  you  expect  me  to  tell  you  that  ?"  she  interrupted. 

"  It  is  but  fair.     How  am  I  to  cope  in  deeds  of  valor 


1 7  2  BAXI)  OLPR  HOXOR. 

with  an  unknown  rival?  At  least,  tell  me  it  is  not  your 
guardian  I" 

Were  it  not  simply  impossible,  in  view  of  Matoaca  and 
that  fragment  of  conversation  overheard  on  the  night  of 
the  ball,  Fadette  would  have  pronounced  his  tone  even 
painfully  anxious  in  that  last  sentence.  As  it  was,  she 
waxed  wroth  against  his  trifling.     She  said  carelessly — 

"  One  day,  perhaps,  I  may  reveal,  on  oath  of  secrecy." 

"  One  day  won't  do,"  he  returned,  in  her  own  manner. 
"  Remember,  your  knight  goes  forth  to-morrow." 

"The  very  thing,"  she  cried;  "I'll  write  a  farewell  letter 
of  instructions  for  the  campaign." 

He  looked  at  her,  but  there  was  not  the  slightest  expres- 
sion of  mocking  in  the  iiplifted  eyes,  nor  around  the  mouth, 
so  unusually  tranquil. 

"  A  letter  of  instructions,"  he  returned,  an  air  of  indif- 
ference covering  his  chagrin ;  "  on  that  couleur  de  rose 
paper  you  keep — for  sentimental  purposes — still  in  your 
desk,  notwithstanding  my  remonstrances  ?" 

"But  see,  Mr.  Erie,  while  I  have  been  making  this  rash 
promise,  we  are  quite  deserted  out  here.  Is  it  very  late  ? 
Every  one  seems  to  be  saying  good-night." 

A  moment  more,  and  she  was  waiting  on  the  stairs  for 
Charley,  who  lingered  on  the  lower  step  s^^eaking  to  Ruth- 
ven  Erie.  And  as  she  waited,  Harry  Thorne  left  the  group 
at  the  door,  and  a'dvanced  toward  her. 

She  saw,  and  cast  an  impatient  glance  down  upon  Charley 
and  Ruthven.  Xo  sign  there  responsive  to  her  haste.  He 
leaned  with  folded  arms  upon  the  balustrade,  and  listened 
smilingly  to  Charley ;  and  Fadette,  in  desperation,  deter- 
mined to  throw  herself  into  the  conversation,  for  Harry 
Thorne  now  stood  beneath  the  balustrade  her  hand  was 
tapping  restlessly.  A  pause  of  irresolution  would  have 
plunged  her  into  a  tete-d-tote  with  him.     She  caught  a  fur- 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  173 

tive  crlinipse  of  liis  uplifted  flushed  and  eager  face.  An- 
other instant,  and  words  which  he  had  spoken  while  she  sat 
at  the  piano — words  which  she  had  aft'ected  to  misunder- 
stand—would have  been  repeated  here.  She  gazed,  all-en- 
grossed, down  upon  the  two  controversialists,  and,  "  going 
it  blind,"  as  Charley  might  have  said,  she  cried — 

"  Quite  right.  Miss  Goodfellow.  And  what  does  Mr.  Erie 
say  to  that  ?" 

Charley  turned,  astonished  and  somewhat  annoyed,  for 
she  had  thought  her  words  inaudible  except  to  Mr.  Erie, 
and  those  words  were  of  Fadette.  But  she  smiled  good- 
humoredly,  perceiving '  that  Fadette,  although  evidently 
embarrassed,  was  not  displeased. 

But  Ruthven  Erie,  initiated  by  his  observation  of  her  at 
the  piano,  comprehended  at  once.  And  when  Charley  re- 
ferred Fadette  to  him  for  an  answer  to  her  question,  he 
said,  regarding  her  with  an  amused  expression — 

"  AYhat  does  Mr.  Erie  say  ?  That  you  have  stumbled  in 
breathless  haste  into  an  impenetrably  dark  cul-de-sac.  How 
do  you  propose  to  emerge  ?" 

Blushes  and  dimples  deepened  with  her  low  reply : 

"  Can  you  not  give  me  a  clue  out  ?" 

"  A-ha,  INIiss  Charley,"  he  said  gayly,  "  eaves-droppers 
never  hear  unmingled  praises,  do  they  ?  Yet  since  no  storm 
of  indignation  whelms  us,  our  compliments  must  have 
atoned.  What  think  you,  Thorne  ?  Miss  Charley  affirms 
that  a  certain  young  lady,  although  a  bright  '  inquire  with- 
in' maybe  read  in  her  eyes,  yet  keeps  her  heart  fast  barred 
with  '  no  admittance  !'  " 

Harry  Thome's  color  heightened.  He  glanced  up  at 
Fadette  eagerly,  and  said,  in  a  tone  for  her  alone : 

" '  The  door  was  shut :  I  looked  between 
Its  iron  bars — 


1V4  BAXDOLPH  HO  NOB. 

"'I,  peering  through,  said:  Give  me  then 
But  one  small  twig  from  shrub  or  tree, 
And  bid  my  home  remember  me 
Until  I  come  to  it  again,'  " 

By  no  movement  did  she  betray  that  she  had  heard  him. 
She  said  carelessly,  still  turned  to  Mr.  Erie,  as  if  in  answer 
to  him: 

"  And  not  only  barred,  Mr,  Erie,  but  it  is  written  that — 

"  '  The  spint  was  silent,  but  he  took 
Mortar  and  stone  to  build  a  wall : 
He  left  no  loop-hole  great  or  small, 
Through  which  my  sti'aining — ' 

"  or,  more  properly,  through  which  my  passing  eyes  might 
look." 

"Yet,"  said  Charley  merrily,  "when  the  soldiers  are 
marching  by,  they  think  the  last  bar  should  be  withdrawn, 
every  spirit  at  the  gate,  and  joining  in  the  chorus" — and 
she  hummed : 

" '  If  you  belong  to  Gideon's  band, 
If  you  belong  to  Gideon's  band. 

Here's  my  heart,  and  here's  my  hand, 
If  you  belong  to  Gideon's  band. 

Fighting  for  your  home.'" 

Harry  Thome  did  not  hear.    He  was  speaking  to  Fadette. 

"  Is  that  my  answer  ?"  he  asked  sadly. 

But  she  could  not  have  understood.  She  was  all  atten- 
tion to  Mr.  Erie. 

He  began  again,  importunately — 

"  Don't  leave  me  so  !  You  know  I  start  at  daylight  for 
the  army.     Give  me  a  reply,  if  only  yes  or  no !" 

And  still  there  came  no  sign. 

"  Good-night,  gentlemen,"  now  said  Charley ;  "  and  if 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  I75 

you  cannot  altogether  forget  bars,  dream  of  those  golden 
ones  which  are  able  to  force  open  many  gates." 

"  Yes  or  no  ?"  said  Harry,  desperately,  as  Fadette  shook 
hands  and  turned  to  go. 

"  Yes  and  no  !"  cried  Charley.  "  Upon  earth  !  you  don't 
mean  to  doubt  the  weight  of  bars  of  promotion  ?" 

"  Yes  or  no  ?"  groaned  Thorne  again,  w4th  one  last  eflbrt. 

But  Fadette  had  gained  the  landing. 

*'  Yes  an'd  no  !  Yes  and  no  !"  cried  Charley  in  supreme 
disdain.  "  The  stupid  fellow !  Is  that  his  yea-and-nay 
good-bye,  when  he  is  going  off  to-morrow  ?  I've  no  pa- 
tience !  Yet  they  say  he  is  brave ;  but  that,  I  reckon,  is 
because  '  he  never  did  know  his  head  from  a  broken  tin- 
pan.'  Shucks !"  she  exclaimed,  after  a  pause,  "  perhaps, 
after  all,  he  \vas  saying,  'Yes,  Zknow.'  " 

"  Aye,"  Fadette  made  answer,  ruefully ;  "  I  am  sure  he 
does  know  now." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

COXCEEXIXG   BATTER-CAKES. 

"  Sic  itur  ad  astra.'' 


pES.  As  you  were  saying,  my  dear  young  lady,"  stout 
old  Mr.  Derby  next  morning  at  the  breakfast-table 
remarked  to  Fadette,  between  whom  and  the  fried 


ovsters  he  had  been  dividing  his  attentions  with  scrupulous 
exactitude — "  as  you  were  saying,  '  Chicora' — I  believe  it  is 
'  Beauregard'  now — is  in  du-e  need  of  a  mistress.  All  very 
well  for  a  young  fellow  of  twenty-one  or  two  to  go  roving 
about  the  country,  here,  there,  and  everywhere ;  but  when 
a  man  is  verging  on  to  thirty  or  so,  he  needs  a  home  and  a 
young  wife — ^the  younger  the  better — the  younger  the 
better."  And  the  old  gentleman — closing  meanwhile  with 
the  oyster,  on  which,  elevated  upon  his  fork,  he  had  at  every 
sentence  bestowed  regards  wistful  enough  to  melt  any  heart 
but  an  oyster's — turned  for  illustration  toward  his  own 
young  wife.  Inauspicious  moment !  she,  at  the  opposite 
side  of  the  table,  was  tossing  her  sunny  curls,  and  shower- 
ing her  sunniest  smiles  upon  Ruthven  Erie. 

Fadette  was  conscious  of  having  said  something  quite 
different  in  substance  from  the  apparent  quotation.  But 
she  was  also  conscious  that  Mr.  Erie  had  suddenly  ceased 
his  conversation  with  his  neighbor,  and  could  scarcely  be 
so  absorbed  as  to  have  heard  nothing  of  Mr.  Derby's  v^'ords. 
She  therefore  blushed  crimson  as  she  ventured  furtively  to 
lift  her  eyes  to  note  the  impression  produced  upon  him. 

He  had  obviously  not  heard,  was  not  besto^-iug  his  at- 


HAND  OLPU  HONOR.  1 7  7 

tention  on  her  indeed,  hut  on  the  juvenile  assistant-u  aiter, 
who,  with  a  plate  of  smoking  batter-cakes,  stood  at  his 
side,  unmoved  by  a  tlirice  reiterated,  "  No,  Tom ;  no  batter- 
cakes." 

"  Confound  you,  are  you  deaf?"  his  master  said  at  length, 
half  angrily,  and  for  the  first  time  turned  full  upon  him. 

It  was  at  this  instant  that  Fadette  sent  the  inquiring  look 
across  the  table. 

"  Her',  her',  Mars'  Ruthven."  The  boy,  nothing  discom- 
fited, again  advanced  his  waiter.  And  not  this  time  in 
vain,  for  there  peeped  from  beneath  it  a  folded  corner  of 
pink  paper.  The  boy's  careful  hands  would  desert  neither 
end  of  his  weio^htier  charo^e,  and  the  batter-cakes  had  hid- 
den  the  note. 

As  Ruthven  Erie  took  careless  possession,  his  glance  en- 
countered Fadette's.  She  Avas  still  blushing  from  Mr. 
Derby's  words,  and  her  color  deepened  yet  more  when  she 
met  that  glance.  Casual  at  first,  it  changed  to  a  gaze  of 
inquiry  and  surprise,  seeking  the  interpretation  of  her  evi- 
dent confusion.  At  once,  as  her  eyes  fell  upon  the  note,  a 
new  idea  seemed  to  flash  upon  him.  And  with  a  slight  com- 
pression of  the  lip,  which  might  have  been  a  smile,  h.e  quietly 
transferred  the  couleur  cle  rose  billet  to —  AYell,  in  these 
prosaic  days  even  love-letters  are  deposited  in  pockets. 

Fadette  retired  hastily  behind  her  cofiee-cup — to  laugh — 
to  smother  that  laughter  by  mouthfuls  of  the  scalding 
liquid  which  eflectually  brought  tears  to  her  lashes  and 
blushes  still  to  her  cheeks — and  to  conjecture.  That  Ruth- 
ven Erie  assumed  the  dainty  missive  to  be  her  own  prom- 
ised letter  of  instructions,  moved  thereto  by  her  embarrass- 
ment, was  clear.  And  equally  clear  that  she  was  innocent 
of  it.  But  by  whom  and  wherefore  sent,  were  points  less 
lucid  far.  Could  Amy — could  Uncle  Rutledge — any  one — 
have  overheard  last  night's  conversation,  and  made  it  the 

8* 


irS  BANDOLPII  TIOXOR. 

subject  of  a  practical  joke  ?  And  Tom's  mysterious  man- 
ner— had  he  been  instructed  in  that  ? 

Resolved  on  discovering  the  hidden  enemy,  she  marked 
searchingly  the  fiices  round  the  table.  One  swift  survey 
convinced  her  that  no  one  save  herself  had  witnessed  the 
note-presentation  scene.  Mr.  Rutledge  had  pushed  aside 
his  cup,  and  resting  his  arm  on  the  table,  was  engaged  in 
a  lively  skirmish  with  Charley  Goodfellow.  Amy  listened 
with  a  faint,  absent  smile,  to  the  discourse  of  her  neighbor. 
And  of  the  serenely  dignified  matron  presiding  so  grace- 
fully over  the  coffee-urn,  one  could,  of  course,  entertain  no 
suspicion. 

When  all  rose  from  the  table,  Fadette  lingered.  And  as 
Tom  and  she  were  now  for  a  moment  left  sole  denizens  of 
the  breakfast  parlor,  she  summoned  him  from  the  buffet^ 
to  which  he  was  removing  the  silver. 

"  Tom,"  she  asked,  "  who  gave  you  that  note  ?" 

"Ma'am — note — "  he  repeated,  unmeaningly,  twisting 
the  corner  of  his  apron  in  perplexity,  and  staring  with  wide- 
open  round  blank  eyes. 

"  Come,  come,  Tom — a  whole  shining  gold  dollar  if 
you'll  remember,"  Fadette  said,  with  an  impatient  tap  of 
her  foot. 

"Whether  or  not  the  promised  dollar  imparted  a  ray  of  its 
own  brightness  to  the  young  African's  head,  he  suddenly 
seemed  to  brighten,  saying — 

"  Oh,  ya'p'm — I  knows.  Xote  I  fotch  Mars'  Ruthven,  I 
'spects.  Uncle  Jake  guv  it  me.  Waitin'  in  Mammy  house 
for  answer." 

"  And  who  is  Uncle  Jake  ?" 

"  One  o'  Judge  Brown's  black  people.  He  Mistis  done 
heerd  Mars'  Ruthven  gwine  acrost  de  river,  an'  sont  de  note, 
so  Uncle  Jake  he  say,  'bout  her  old  man  what  over  dar  in 
de  armv.     Y'  ain't  gwine  to  forgit  de  dollar,  is  you  now  ?" 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  179 

he  added,  pulling  his  forelock  with  a  most  insinuating  dis- 
play of  the  ivories. 

"  No,  indeed,  Tom,  not  I.  It  shall  be  forthcoming  this 
very  day.  Now,  if  only  he  have  not  opened  the  note ! 
Spirit  of  Fun  forefend  !"    And  she  hastened  from  the  room. 

That  merry  curl  of  the  lip  had  to  be  smoothed  out  into 
becoming  gravity,  ere,  lingering  at  the  door  of  the  library, 
she  could  trust  herself  to  open  and  enter. 

There  he  stood,  leaning  upon  the  mantel,  listening  with 
politely  repressed  imjmtience  to  little  Mrs.  Derby's  lively 
sallies  of  nonsense,  as  she  smiled  up  from  her  low  ottomaii, 
coquettishly  shaking  those  curls  at  him.  If  "  beauty  draws 
us  with  a  single  hair,"  how  many  an  unfortunate  must  have 
been  entangled  by  those  bright  meshes  !  And  how  many 
more  is  she  bent  upon  entangling  ?  Who  can  number  the 
hairs  of  a  head  ? 

"  Mr.  Erie." 

The  fingers  restlessly  yet  noiselessly  tapping  the  marble 
of  the  mantel,  stayed ;  the  right  hand  dropped  slowly  from 
its  careless  closing  above  that  pocketed  note,  as  he  turned 
to  meet  the  voice. 

What  a  demure  rose-bud  mouth  that  was,  speaking  his 
name  so  softly.  The  upturned  glance  was  simplicity  itself, 
and  the  fairy  hands  were  folded  together  so  tranquill}-. 
Yet  how  had  they  learned  that  unwonted  quiescence  ?  He, 
looking  down,  knew  that  it  boded  ill. 

"  Mr.  Erie,  the  boy  is  waiting  for  an  answer,"  the  demure 
mouth  said  again. 

"What  boy?  what  answer?"  he  asked,  completely  mys- 
tified. 

"Mrs.  Brown's  servant.  You  received  her  note  this 
morning,  did  you  not?"  And  Fadette  could  not  repress 
the  mischievous  twinkle  in  her  eyes. 

His  met  them  fully  and  searchingly.      Then  he  delib- 


1  so  RAyDOLPU  HOXOR. 

erately  drew  forth  the  rose-colored  note,  unfolded,  and 
read  it. 

"  I  thank  you,"  he  said,  quietly  regarding  her ;  "  I  will 
write  my  answer." 

He  was  gone.  And,  after  all,  the  Spirit  of  Fun  seemed 
to  have  kept  aloof  from  the  matter  altogether.  Fadette 
sank  down  disconcerted  in  the  deep-cushioned  seat  of  the 
bow-window.  Was  he  angry  ?  and  going  away  in  an  hour ! 
Perhaps  he  would  not  even  say  good-bye !  Well,  what 
difference  ?     And  she  raised  her  head  defiantly. 

Going  away  in  an  hour.  It  had  passed  as  she  sat  there 
still,  the  rounded  chin  resting  in  the  soft  palm — the  hot 
blood  burning  cheek  and  brow.  She  sat  there  still,  taj)- 
ping  with  restless  foot  the  crushed  roses,  down  upon 
which  swept  those  curtains  veiling  her.  Still,  thinking 
distinctly  of  nothing,  with  the  consciousness  of  a  fast  beat- 
ing heart  and  a  choking  sensation  in  the  throat,  and  a 
vague  wondering  whether,  after  all,  he  would  not  seek 
her ;  whether — no,  she  would  never  advance  one  inch. 

A  quick,  firm  step  re-entering  the  library,  and  a  voice 
she  knew,  exchanging  kindly  fiirewells.  A  silence  follow- 
ing.    And  then — 

Xo,  he  was  not  gone.  The  curtains  were  thrust  aside, 
and  he  stood  between  them. 

She  rose,  as  she  yielded  her  hand  to  his  firm  grasp.  Her 
down-dropt  lashes  quivered,  and  there  was  a  deep  flush  on 
her  cheek.  But  the  curtains  threw  a  crimson  glow  there, 
and  Ruthven  Erie  had  learned  to  distrust  blushes. 

"Mrs.  Brown's  note,"  he  said,  extending  toward  her  a 
folded  paper,  "  seemed  to  require  yet  another  answer.  Shall 
I  request  you  to  take  charge  of  this?". 

She  raised  her  eyes  in  timid  inquiry,  then  as  suddenly 
dropped  them.  And  this  time — yes,  she  certainly  did 
blush. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  ]81 

His  color,  too,  heightened,  as  he  looked  down  upon  her 
thus,  and  his  grasp  of  the  fluttering  hands  tightened.  But 
he  dropped  them  and  suppressed  a  heavy  sigh,  as  he  left 
her  abruptly. 

He  paused  long  on  the  gallery.  Fadette  could  hear  his 
lowered  tones  in  earnest  speech  with  some  soft  woman- 
voice,  too  low  for  recognition. 

His  arm  thrown  across  Captain  Sandford's  shoulder,  he 
walked  leisurely  to  the  gate,  where  old  Washington  waited, 
proudly  stroking,  as  he  restrained,  the  restive  mettled 
chestnut.  There,  it  being  a  Saturday  holiday,  quite  a  knot 
of  servants  Avere  assembled  to  say  good-bye.  Fadette 
watched  the  courtesying  and  bowing,  redoubled  when  he 
shook  hands — not  empty-handed,  it  might  seem. 

As  he  sprang  into  the  saddle,  he  removed  his  hat, 
waving  it  toward  the  house.  How  noble  and  gallant ! 
she  thought,  while  he  galloped  by,  lowering  his  proud  head 
beneath  the  rose-vine  trailing  from  the  barren  oak  beside 
the  gate.  Swiftly  brushed  by,  petals  white  as  snow-flakes 
showered  on  the  gray  uniform  and  the  black  sombrero  with 
its  waving  plume.  And  with  another  bound,  that  plume 
had  waved  its  last  amoncj  the  clusterino^  bouo-hs  of  "Beau- 
regard." 

Fadette  waited  in  the  window,  pressing  her  burning 
brow  against  the  cool  pane.  And  while  she  watched,  Ma- 
toaca,  also  watching,  with  face  averted  from  her,  passed 
slowly  by  on  the  gallery. 

Unceremoniously,  Fadette  escaped  to  her  room  with  the 
note  she  felt  to  be  hers.  She  bent  long  over  the  paper 
which  she  drew  from  the  unsealed  envelope,  before  she 
crumpled  it  up  and  tossed  it  into  her  desk.  Then  she  rose 
and  walked  the  floor  with  an  air  half  of  anger,  half  of  mor- 
tification, yet  laughing  in  spite  of  herself,  as  she  exclaimed  : 

"  So  !     He  did  not  care  after  all !     Xot  quite  so  safe  to 


182  RAyDOLPU  UOXOR. 

play  with  edge-tools  with  him,  as  with  Lionel  or  Harry 
Thorne,  whom  a  smile  disarms.  The  joke  is  rather  against 
me,  I  fancy." 

The  crumpled  paper  was  a  pen-and-ink  caricature  of  that 
scene  at  the  breakfast-table.  Fadette's  shoulders  were 
toward  the  beholder,  so  that  a  full  view  might  be  taken 
of  Ruthven  Erie  himself  opposite.  A  preternaturally  di- 
minutiA'e  young  Cuffee,  grinning  significantly,  nudged  him 
with  a  salver  of  exaggerated  batter-cakes  and  wondrously 
small  note,  upon  which  one  of  Ruthven's  hands  had  closed 
with  eager  clutch.  The  other  hand,  uplifted,  pointed 
toward  a  yawning  gap  in  the  ceiling,  on  which  his  eyes 
were  fixed  with  a  well-portrayed  stare  of  delight,  while 
his  smiling  mouth  framed  the  words,  "  Sic  itur  ad  astral 


CHAPTER   XV. 

WILLOW   LAKE. 

"A  horror  lived  abont  the  tarn,  and  clave 
Like  its  own  mists—" 

Elaine. 

HE  sun  is  already  sinking  behind  the  dense  level 
of  woodland  which  belts  the  horizon  upon  either 
hand,  as  Fadette  and  her  ancient  sable  equerry- 
ride  on  beside  the  cypresses  skirting  Willow  Lake.  The 
Avaters  lie  sombre  in  their  moss-darkened  shadoAV,  but  the 
heavens  brighten  moment  by  moment,  richer  in  crimson 
and  gold  an  hour  later  than  at  sunset-tide.  And  the  east 
floats  tloud-canopies  as  gorgeous  as  ever  the  chosen  west 
prepares  for  the  reception  of  the  day-god.  The  rushing 
wings  and  the  twittering  of  homeward-bound  birds,  die 
away  in  distance.  From  hidden  banks  of  boggy  bayous 
begins  the  long-reverberating  chant  of  the  "  swamp  angels ;" 
while  from  every  budding  tree  and  shrub  rise  insect  cho- 
ruses more  or  less  sonorous.  The  breeze  rustles  faintly 
over  deserted  stubble-fields  plentiful  in  crops  of  bushy 
cockle-burrs.  Through  silvery  plumes  of  sedge,  uprise 
the  rosy  glowing  boughs  of  red-bud;  and  below,  wild 
chamomile  and  daisies,  and  purple  and  white-fringed  clus- 
ters, float  on  the  billowy  sea  of  russet-brown  and  yellowed 
weeds  and  grasses,  just  beginning  here  and  there  to  shine 
a  brighter  green  in  the  light  of  spring.  Here  the  ever- 
green canes  raise  their  light  shafts  high  among  the  trees, 
from  loftiest  boughs  of  which  wild  grape-vines  fling  down 


184  RAXBOLPII  HONOR. 

tendrils,  and  the  trumpet-flower  waves  in  scarlet  glory. 
Stealing  subtly  through  the  misty  gathering  forest-damps, 
ascends  the  faint  odorous  breath  of  forest  solitudes.  Afar 
from  the  pasture  resound  the  tinklings  of  bells,  the  lowing 
of  kine  at  the  milking,  the  echoing  call  of  the  stock-minder. 
Yet  despite  these  home-sounds  there  pervades  a  stillness 
through  the  gloaming,  but  intensified  by  such  reminiscences 
of  busy  day. 

It  irks  Fadette,  who  would  defy  sadness.  But  her  jaded 
horse,  the  best  of  whose  days  are  far  spent,  refuses  to  take 
the  hint  of  whip  and  bridle,  and  plods  on  for  the  remaining 
half-mile. 

Then  the  shades  deepen,  the  waters  darken.  Silence 
sinks  into  stiller  slumber  within  the  charmed  circle  of 
Sleepy  Hollow.  The  aspen-leafed  cotton-wood  shivers  and 
tosses  as  in  troubled  dreams,  and  flings  faint  moonlit  smiles 
upon  its  double,  sleeping  on  the  grass.  The  oaks  gloom 
against  the  cottage-walls,  but  lights  shine  cheerily  forth 
when  Fadette  rides  up  to  the  gallery. 

Late  into  the  night  sat  the  two  girls  in  Mataoca's  cham- 
ber. Fadette  lounged  half  buried  in  the  soft  cushions 
of  a  "  lesser  Sleepy  Hollow,"  while  she  loosed  the  glossy 
purple-black  braids  of  her  hair,  removing  "Confederate 
times"  hair-pins,  home-manufactured  from  Beauregard's 
bristling  thorn-trees,  and  gayly  ornamented  with  sealing- 
wax  heads. 

The  two  girls  were  now  friends  of  a  year's  standing. 
Much  of  that  space  had  lapsed  in  profound  quiet,  its  only 
events  an  occasional  letter,  usually  months  old,  from  Ruth- 
ven  Erie  or  Mr.  Weir,  and  a  paper  of  as  ancient  date,  given 
by  some  wounded  soldier  travelling  from  beyond  the  Mis- 
sissippi toward  his  home,  and  considered  a  full  recompense 
for  hospitality  extended.     The  all-powerful  b/Oiid  of  a  com- 


BANDOLPII  IIONOE.  185 

mon  cause  pulled  down  all  Ijarriers  of  social  distinctions, 
and  every  veteran  was  an  eagerly-welcomed  guest. 

With  the  last  six  months  had  come  a  change.  Even  be- 
fore the  fall  of  Yicksburg,  these  long-quiet  shores  had  been 
harassed  by  frequent  raids.  But  the  w^orst  was  not  yet. 
These  once  so  wealthy  lands  w^el^-e  to  be  made  a  wilderness 
by  passing  troops,  and  by  the  marine  fleet,  whose  god  was 
[Mercury,  and  who,  like  true  thermometers,  ascended  and 
descended  with  the  state  of  the  temperature — made  some- 
times hot  by  Confederate  batteries.  Lat?er,  peaceful  man- 
sions were  shelled  in  retaliation  of  Confederate  guns,  a 
mile  or  more  above ;  flags  of  truce  ignored,  for  the  purpose 
of  wrapping  a  village  in  flames;  hospital-flags  used  in 
steaming  past  Confederate  batteries ;  from  "  unarmed  trans- 
ports" soldiers  amused  themselves  by  firing  on  old  men, 
and  even  women,  standing  on  their  own  thresholds.  The 
foe  could  not  quite,  how^ever,  claim  the  land  for  his  own. 
Vain  was  Admiral  Porter's  manifesto,  left  by  the  gunboats 
at  divers  landings,  threatening  that — 

"  Persons  taken  in  the  act  of  firing  on  unarmed  vessels 
from  the  land,  will  be  treated  as  highwaymen  and  assassins, 
and  no  quarter  will  be  shown  them. 

"  Persons  strongly  suspected  of  firing  on  unarmed  vessels, 
will  not  receive  the  usual  treatment  of  prisoners  of  war, 
but  will  be  kept  in  close  confinement.  If  this  savage  and 
barbarous  Confederate  custom  cannot  be  put  a  stop  to,  we 
will  try  what  virtue  there  is  in  hanging." 

Vain — for  Confederates  still  dashed  in  to  the  river — bra- 
vadoed  gunboats  to  strike  the  blanket  target  they  them- 
selves held  up  on  the  levee — made  raids  on  the  captured 
islands  and  cut-ofl*s,  carrying  war  into  Africa  there  with 
such  a  vengeance,  that  three  or  four  of  their  number  were 
known  to  bring  to  grief  the  hundred  American  citizens  of 
African  descent  located  as  armed  and  belligerent  wood- 


186  RAKDOLPU  HONOR. 

choppers  —  and  defied  those  American  citizens'  white 
l^rothers-in-arms,  riding  before  them,  sometimes  five  to  fil'ty, 
forcing  the  fifty  to  halt,  "  change  base,"  and  make  detours^ 
at  the  good  pleasure  of  the  five. 

A  great  change  had  in  the  last  weeks  befallen  Beaure- 
gard.    Mr.  Rutledge  occu|5ied  a  prison-cell  in  St.  Louis. 

In  the  hope  of  procuring  a  few  mules,  sole  rescuers  from 
imminent  famine,  he  had  crossed  the  Mississippi^  and  was 
returning,  when,  as  he  neared  the  shore,  a  transport  steamed 
down  upon  his  skiif.  The  soldiers  on  board  hailed,  but  in 
one  instant,  before  Mr.  Rutledge  could  stay  his  oarsman, 
who  was  stone-deaf,  a  volley  of  musketry  intervened,  and 
the  old  man  fell  back,  dead.  Mr.  Rutledge  was  removed, 
a  prisoner,  after  his  captors  had  rifled  the  body.  Harry 
Thorne,  who,  just  as  all  was  over,  had  ridden  out  upon  the 
bank,  on  a  wild-goose  chase  after  "  Uncle  Sam's  web-feet," 
borrowed  a  citizen's  coat,  and  went  daringly  on  board,  as 
if  drawn  by  curiosity.  He  found  the  clerk  a  Missouri 
townsman  and  secret  "  copperhead,"  and  dej)ositing  his  all 
of  money  for  the  prisoner's  use,  received  a  promise  of  in- 
telligence concerning  his  fate. 

"  Put  out  the  light,  Matoaca,"  Fadette  suggested  ;  "  see, 
even  your  nonpareil  mould-candle  but  neutralizes  the 
moon." 

Matoaca  obeyed,  seating  herself  at  the  window  beside 
her  friend. 

"  I  confess  I  am  delighted  Miss  Arabella  is  away,"  Fa- 
dette began,  after  a  long  silence  ;  "  I  would  have  you  all  to 
myself  for  my  last  visit  to  Sleepy  Hollow.  Yes" — as 
Matoaca  raised  her  head  hastily — "  Aunt  Janet  is  strongly 
urged  to  remove,  with  all  able-bodied  servants,  to  Little 
Rock.  Mr.  Leigh,  and  other  neighbors,  who  have  proven 
themselves  such  in  the  full  sense  of  the  word,  oifer  to  watch 
over  the  few  negroes  who  might  remain  behind,  and  with 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  187 

whom  would  be  mules  sufficient  to  raise  their  own  crops. 
That  last  raid  thinned  our  ploughs  to  starvation.  Of  course 
there  will  be  little  or  no  corn  to  buy,  while  so  many  planta- 
tions are  deserted,  and  none  worked  as  of  old.  The  ser- 
vants Avill  be  provided  for — hired  out,  as  Mr.  Erie's  already 
are,  at  the  salt-works.  And  as  our  gold  and  silver  mine  at 
Beauregard  has  never  yet  been  dug  up,  we  can  provide  for 
ourselves  when  once  beyond  reach  of  raids.  Aunt  Janet 
is  so  apathetic,  that  she  is  quite  likely  to  assent  to  any  ar- 
rangement friends  may  make  for  her.  So  different,"  she 
added,  sighing,  "  from  her  old  self,  that  it  is  difficult  to 
recognize  in  her  the  motive  power  which  was  wont  to  guide 
all  Beauregard,  and,  through  her  loving  influence,  my  uncle. 
True,  she  leaves  no  duty  unaccomplished ;  superintends 
loom,  and  spinning-wheel,  and  dairy,  and  has  even  taken 
upon  her  to  visit  the  field  twice  daily,  as  Ave  have  no  over- 
seer; and  if  we  should  remain,  it  is  a  question  of  corn-crop 
or  starvation.  But  she  goes  through  all  as  by  mechanism. 
Since  through  Mr.  Thorne  we  have  been  confirmed  in  our 
fear  that  my  uncle  is  in  that  St.  Louis  prison  for  no  short 
stay,  day  by  day  she  has  grown  more  like  death  in  life.  I 
am  frightened  when  I  look  into  her  still  set  face,  and  I 
think  any  change  may  be  for  the  better — nothing  can  be 
worse.  Then,  too,  Harry  Thorne  urges  the  move,  and  Aunt 
Janet  will  be  guided  implicitly  by  him.  It  is  beautiful  to 
see  his  devotion,  and  to  him  alone  she  almost  softens.  She 
gave  him  a  faint  smile  yesterday,  which  Avould  have  gone 
to  your  very  heart." 

"  Yesterday  ?     Is  he  in  the  county  again  ?" 
"  But  just  arrived,  on  a  week's  leave.     What  if  we  should 
go  out  under  his  escort  ?     Oh,  Matoaca,  vrhy  have  I  learned 
you  and  loved  you  in  this  year?" 

Matoaca  only  turned  away  her  head.     Pier  lips  formed 
no  words.      But  in  the  pallid  moonbeams,  those  firm-set 


188  nA:>DOLPii  iioxon. 

curves  were  all  eloquent.  As  Fadette  observed,  a  year 
vanished  away,  and  again  she  was  was  seated,  witlidrawn 
from  the  gay  confusion  of  the  dance,  in  a  window  opening 
out  upon  a  gallery  where  two  were  passing  by  in  earnest 
conversation.  She  saw  again  that  mournful  pallor,  the 
drooping  of  the  proud  dark  eyes,  the  mouth  fixed  in  reso- 
lute sorrowful  endurance.  And  she  heard  in  those  steady 
tones — 

"What  is  past,  is  past.     The  far  and  near.      I  let  all 

go." 

She  rose  up  abruptly  and  moved  away,  staying  before 
the  mirror  where  the  moonlight  broadened  in  a  silver  flood, 
and  combing  out  the  dishevelled  masses  of  wavy  hair  which 
fell,  a  dark  veil,  over  her  gleaming  dimpled  shoulders. 
She  hummed,  as  she  lost  her  small  hands  in  the  heavy 
tresses,  in  a  reckless  defiance  of  thought,  that  was  her  own. 
When  suddenly  Matoaca  drevr  back  from  the  window,  out 
of  which  her  gaze  had  wandered  absently. 

"  Quick,  come  here,"  she  said,  with  a  hurried  gesture ; 
"look,  child,  over  there  toward  the  woods.  Xo — no,  not 
that  way — here,  across  that  field  along  the  lake.  Do  you 
see—"   ' 

Shadowed  by  budding  forest-trees,  the  road  shines  white 
throuo-h  the  lawn's  broad  freshenino-  verdure,  where  at  in- 
tervals,  darker  than  the  other  checkered  shadows,  the  solid 
gloom  of  a  group  of  cedars  sweeps  to  the  ground.  The 
water-willows  fringing  the  lake-shore  stand  apart  in  front, 
to  give  place  to  the  moonlit  gleam  of  waters  asleep  among 
the  broad-leaved  quivering  water-lilies,  where  mists  shift 
and  hover  and  drift  across  like  vague  fair  dreams.  Below, 
through  that  gray  oak-grove  in  the  bend,  a  red  liglit  glim- 
mers from  the  solitary  quarter-cabin  remaining  after  the 
last  raid.  Above  the  homestead,  sere,  level,  unfenced,  un- 
cultivated fields  stretch  broadlv  from  the  lake  to  the  level 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  189 

wooded  horizon.  And  between  those  fields  and.  the  watei*s 
winds  the  road  on  to  the  dark  forest,  where — 

"  O  Matoaca,  can  that  be  the  gleam  of  bayonets  ?" 

Matoaca  stood  uj}. 

"I — do  not  think  they  can  be  our  soldiers,"  she  said, 
slowly.  "  Go  you,  quietly,  and  awake  Mrs.  Grahame,  while 
I  call  my  uncle." 

Swiftly  but  calmly  she  left  the  room,  as  Fadette  sprang 
forward  and  opened  Mrs.  Grahame's  door. 

In  a  moment,  the  household  was  assembled.  They 
paused,  debating  in  the  open  hall,  where  the  moonlight 
streamed  with  weird  flickering  shadows  of  the  cottonwood 
soughing  through  every  lingering  dry  gray  leaf  against 
the  front  gallery.  Tranquil  and  clear  and  deeply  blue 
were  the  night-heavens,  where  stars  in  the  southern  atmos- 
phere shone  down  with  a  full  calm  glory,  soft  and  steady 
as  the  moonlight.  Here  on  the  sofa,  beside  the  dining- 
room  door,  lay  Matoaca's  book,  ojDcn  Avhere  she  had  that 
morning  thrown  it  down.  Opposite,  above  the  door  of  the 
parlor,  hung  Mr.  Grahame's  shot-gun;  and  on  the  table 
near  by,  Matoaca's  work-basket,  with  the  bundle  of  bleached 
palmetto-strips  and  the  half-finished  hat,  told  of  her  deft 
industrious  fingers.  Two  hours  ago  all  had  been  thus 
peaceful ;  and  now — 

They  looked  into  each  others'  white  still  faces^  and  their 
hearts  stood  still  within  them.  Fearfully  present  was  every 
scene — and  those  scenes  were  not  few — of  which  they  had 
heard  of  midnight  terrors.  As  the  fold  hopes  from  the 
wolf,  so  hoped  they  from  those  midnight  marauders,  whose 
steady  tramp  among  the  dry  rustling  grasses,  upon  the 
fallen  wintry  leaves,  their  straining  hearing  brought  each 
instant  near  and  nearer,  until  the  startled  senses  almost 
felt  the  rude  grasp  on  the  shoulder,  the  heavy,  hard,  relent- 
less, murderous  breath,  the  paralyzed  hopelessness  where- 


190  RAyDOLPH  HOXOR, 

Avith  in  evil  dreams  Fate  chains  us  fast.  Fadette  shook  off 
that  deadening  despair,  clenching  her  slight  hands  in  the 
effort  at  self-control,  until  the  blazing  diamonds,  now  so 
valueless,  bruised  deep  the  tender  flesh.  But  Mrs.  Gra- 
hame  still  drooped,  gazing  vacantly  upon  her  clinging  chil- 
dren, who,  thus  roused  from  slumber,  were  hushed  and 
awestruck  in  the  moonlight  and  the  quiet,  and  hi  the  pres- 
ence of  those  awed  faces. 

It  was  but  an  instant  they  awaited  thus.  Yn:  Grahame 
had  grasped  his  gun,  and  now,  in  his  quick,  excitable 
manner,  stepped  forward  in  front  of  the  group;  but 
Matoaca,  calm  as  death,  laid  a  light  touch  on  his  arm. 

"  That  must  be  at  the  last  extremity,  dear  uncle.  '  He 
that  rinneth  awaie,'  you  know.  You  said  this  morning 
YOU  had  not  half  a  dozen  loads." 

"  My  pistol — "  began  Fadette. 

"  And  even  if  we  had  arms  enough  and  to  spare,  they 
could  smoke  us  out  of  this  old  house  in  ten  minutes.  Xo ; 
we  must  take  refuge  in  the  woods.  Quick !"  She  spoke  to 
Mrs.  Grahame,  who  still  stood  white  and  motionless,  but 
looked  up  with  a  piteous  gaze  in  those  loving  hazel  eyes, 
when  Matoaca  lifted  one  of  the  plump  twins  into  her  own 
strong  arms.  "  Xay,  dear,"  Matoaca  said,  soothingly,  "  I 
will  but  keep  our  darling  for  you.  You  cannot  care  for 
three.  Go  with  her,"  she  added  to  Fadette,  around  whose 
shoulders  now  clung  another  little  one  ;  "  lead  her,  she  does 
not  hear  what  I  say.  Fly  !  But  be  cautious  until  you  are 
across  the  lawn  ;  avoid  the  moonlight.  Make  for  the  t\  il- 
low  thicket  by  the  lake.     Go." 

"And  you?" 

"My  uncle  and  I  follow.  Too  many  must  not  be 
together.  Besides,  we  must  make  some  semblance  of 
securing  the  house,  to  gain  time.     Quick !" 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  191 

Fadette  pressed  the  child  to  her,  and  passed  her  arm 
round  Mrs.  Grahame. 

"  Come,"  she  whispered  ;  "  your  children  follow  me." 

Blindly,  led  by  that  one  word  grasping  her  mother- 
instinct,  the  poor,  dazed  woman  obeyed  the  guiding  arm. 
One  instant,  and,  keeping  within  the  shadow  of  the  trees, 
they  had  gained  a  dense  clump  of  cedars,  the  branches  of 
which  swept  the  ground,  impenetrably  dark.  In  this  tem- 
porary security  they  crouched,  for  voices  and  the  tread  of 
armed  men  now  drew  nearer. 

The  infant  slept,  hushed  upon  the  mother's  breast.  The 
little  girl  clung  to  the  mother's  hand,  too  awed  to  question 
or  complain,  though  night-dews  fell  damp  upon  her  one 
light  garment.  Fadette  wrapped  her  own  shawl  over  the 
shivering  shoulders.  So  cold — and  yet  how  colder  far  the 
grave  !  How  frail  the  barrier,  those  cedar  boughs  ! — bar- 
ring back  what  fate  ? 

What  fate  ?  She  shuddered  and  clenched  her  hands 
together,  for  a  sharp  report,  and  a  wild  shriek  from  the 
house,  rang  out  on  the  heavy  midnight  air  in  answer  to 
her  question. 

Matoaca  ? — The  old  man  ? — She  parted  the  branches 
where  she  knelt.  And  as  she  knelt,  before  she  dared  to  lift 
her  eyes,  she  gasped  out  in  choked  utterance,  lower  than 
the  moaning  through  those  branches,  one  word  in  which  is 
all  prayer,  one  wild  cry  on  the  God  of  Hosts.  She  looked. 
Xo  one  near.  Yonder,  far  across  the  lawn,  before  the 
house,  a  knot  of  men  gathered  round  some  object  on  the 
grass.  Now,  with  the  glitter  of  the  moonlight  on  his 
bayonet,  one  stooj^,  examining  it.  Another  kicks  it 
brutally  aside  with  a  shouted  curse.  And  all  move  on  to 
the  house,  where  the  crashing  of  doors  soon  tells  their 
errand,  and  the  detention  that  comes  too  late — too  late. 


192  RASDOLPH  HOXOR. 

Although  the  moonbeams  rest  upon  it,  she  cannot  discern 
its  form.  The  trees  cast  wavering  shadows  there,  and  dis- 
tance confuses  the  outline.  She  can  bear  this  no  longer. 
The  shrubbery  is  thick  and  overgrown.  The  moon  passes 
under  a  cloud ;  it  is  black  and  broad,  as  she  glances  up  to 
see.     Xow  is  her  time. 

She  stoops,  and  lays  a  touch  on  Mrs.  Grahame's  shoulder. 
As  the  ghastly  face  is  raised  to  hers,  she  whispers  hurriedly, 
*'  Stay  here,  dear,  until  I  return.  Do  not  move ;  do  not  let 
Lily  move.  Fear  not,  you  are  safe  here,  quite  safe.  In 
one  moment  I  will  be  back.  Xo,  no,  Lily,"  and  she  gently 
looses  the  child's  hold  of  her  dress.  "  Bu'die  -^-ill  give  you 
a  mighty  lump  of  white  sugar  —  yes,  two  of  them,  one  for 
each  hand  —  if  you  only  stay  here  by  mamma's  side,  quite 
still,  like  a  wee  mouse." 

She  marvelled  how  she  could  speak  thus  calmly,  while 
every  pulse  so  throbbed. 

Swift  as  the  wind,  and  as  unseen,  she  fled  from  bush  to 
bush,  from  tree  to  tree.     There  it  lay  at  her  feet. 

She  dared  not  look  at  first,  but  bowed  her  head  against 
the  huge  gnarled  trunk  behind  which  she  stood  concealed. 
Then  she  leaned  forward  tremblingly. 

Ghastly  white  as  the  moonbeam  on  his  brow — rigid  as  the 
outline  of  that  craunt  Cottonwood  beside  him  on  the  orrass — 
still  as  the  dead  leaves  beneath  him — lay  Mr.  Grahame. 
And  on  those  leaves  there  trickled  and  fell,  drop  by  drop, 
a  pool  of  blood. 

TVas  this  death  ? 

The  wide-open  light  gray  eyes,  once  so  keen  and  restless, 
stared  dully  up  into  the  cloudless  midnight  skies,  and  only 
seemed  to  flicker  from  that  stare  when  the  scant  gray 
foliage  of  the  tree  above  stirred  and  shifted  and  rattled 
harshly.  The  fixed  white  lips  moved  no  more  with  their 
wonted  quick  decisiveness.     The  wrinkled  hands  had  lost 


llAyDOLPII  HONOn.  193 

that  hurried  nervousness  of  hold,  and  stiffened,  clutching 
tight  across  the  moveless  breast  the  useless  shot-gun, 
flashing  in  the  moonlight. 

The  strange  rigidity  appalled  Fadette.  She  shook  in 
every  limb.  And  moaning,  Is  this  death  ?  the  terror  of 
it  grasped  her  very  heart-strings. 

But  she  dared  not  leave  him  thus.  She  must  know 
"whether  all  help  were  helpless  now.  She  was  moving  for- 
ward shrinkingly ;  when  a  loud  shout  and  the  rush  of  feet 
drove  her  back,  crouching,  into  her  concealment. 

She  peered  forth.  It  was  toward  the  cedar  covert  that 
the  trampling  tread  was  bent.  And  thence,  thence  flitted 
a  white-robed  form,  pressing  an  infant  to  her  bosom,  grasp- 
ing a  child's  hand  in  hers.  Had  she  been  discovered  in 
that  hiding-place?  Or  had  she,  urged  by  restless  dread 
and  a  sense  of  insecurity,  ventured  forth  to  seek  another, 
yet  more  distant  ?     Fadette  never  knew. 

On,  through  the  shadows,  in  and  out  among  those  fring- 
ing water-willows,  like  mists  which  floated  there,  on  fled 
the  white-robed  figure  and  the  child.  Fast  and  faster, 
darkness  closing  in  behind,  pursued  the  black  fiends.  And 
there  a  white  oflicer,  his  drawn  sword  flashing  in  the  light, 
shouted  and  urged  them  on. 

More,  Fadette  could  not  see,  although  she  forgot  pru- 
dence, and  stood  up,  pushing  aside  the  foliage.  Once  her 
fingers  clenched  upon  her  pistol,  and  she  started  forward. 
But  even  in  the  impulse,  she  felt  with  a  crushing  helpless- 
less  hoAv  vain  must  any  aid  of  hers  now  be. 

And  still  she  heard,  listening  there  with  sinking  heart, 
that  onward  flight. 

A  low  far-sounding  plunge — the  plash  and  gurgle  of 
waters — a  volley  of  musketry — the  shrill  cry  of  a  child — a 
louder,  wilder  wail — 

And  all  was  still. 

9 


104  nAyDOLPii  noyoB. 

lu  the  gray  dawn  of  the  moiTOw,  among  the  broad-leaved 
odorous  monaca-lilies,  there  floated  np  and  down,  at  the 
will  of  the  chilly  wind  and  the  restless  ever-moaning 
waves,  the  listless  form  of  a  child,  white  and  soft,  and 
swaying  to  and  fro  with  the  wind-swept  mists  which  hov- 
ered there.  The  listless  form  of  a  child,  limp  and  flexile  as 
the  lily-stems  round  which  the  golden  tresses  tangled, 
washed  out  of  curl  in  the  cold  waters,  and  flung  back  from 
a  cruel  wound,  a  deeply-cutting  blow  in  the  temple,  whence 
the  tide  of  life  had  ebbed. 

Xot  until  gray-shrouding  evening  shades  had  fallen  was 
the  mother  found — the  infant  folded  to  her  bosom  as-  if  in 
slumber,  until  in  Paradise  it  shall  awaken  thus. 

Heaven  alone  saw — Heaven  alone  recorded — the  horror 
of  that  night. 

At  first  Fadette  had  sunk  down,  overpowered.  Then, 
as  deepening  silence  told  that  all  was  over,  fear  gave 
strength  once  more.  She  knew  they  must  return  this  way 
— she  knew  the  insecurity  of  her  concealment — and  she  re- 
solved to  fly.  One  moment  she  stayed,  bending  over  the 
old  man,  to  lay  a  hurried  touch  upon  his  heart.  It  seemed 
to  her  that  it  had  ceased  to  beat.  But  as  she  removed  her 
hand,  a  blood-stain  crimsoned  the  palm.  Had  it  freshly 
trickled  from  that  bullet-wound  in  his  side,  or  was  it  that 
with  which  his  life  had  flowed  out  ?  She  had  no  time  to 
ascertain,  no  time  for  anything  save  to  bind  up  the  wound 
hastily  with  her  handkerchief 

And  then  she  fled.  He  must  needs  have  been  swift  who 
would  have  overtaken  her ;  but  she  fled  unseen.  Crouching 
in  shadow,  flying  in  light,  on  she  sped,  until  in  the  dense 
canebrake,  far  up  the  road  down  which  that  band  had  come, 
she  sank  down,  breathless. 

In  the  stillness,  in  the  darkness,  only  broken  into  by  a, 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  195 

flickering  shimmer  through  the  cane  and  tlie  moss-palled 
boughs  above,  the  full  reality  pressed  yet  more  heavily  upon 
her.  Never  before  had  Death  drawn  near  to  her,  and  in 
more  than  his  own  terrors  had  he  come  that  night.  She 
shrank  back  from  the  swaying  of  the  canes  against  her 
dress — from  the  dropping  of  the  withered  leaves,  one  by 
one,  upon  her  clenching  hands — from  the  flutter  of  the 
night  air  in  the  long  loose-floating  hair.  Every  gust  of 
wind  through  the  troubled  cottonwoods  came  freighted 
with  that  childish  scream,  that  heart-wrung  wail.  And 
though  she  clasped  her  fingers  tightly  on  her  burning  eyes, 
she  could  not  shut  out  the  flying  white-robed  woman — 
the  shape  stretched  out  all  rigid  on  the  dead  wet  autumn 
leaves. 

A  thousand  insects  still  hummed  on,  as  if  life  were  one 
unbroken  harmony.  A  katydid  in  the  cypress  above  waxed 
argumentative  with  one  in  yonder  hollow  oak.  Afar  was 
taken  up  the  burden,  now  deeper,  and  now  shriller,  of  the 
frogs.  And  the  mocking-bird,  whose  nest  was  in  the  great 
magnolia  on  the  lawn,  was  pouring  forth  his  softest  melody. 
A  mockery,  indeed ! 

Now  and  then  a  louder  echo  roused  the  forest — the 
crash  and  fall  of  deadened  and  decaying  timber — the  spring 
of  a  startled  deer.  Yet  to  Fadette  each  leaf-fall  was  por- 
tentous. 

At  last  a  nearer  sound.  The  cane  rustled  and  clashed 
at  a  hurried  approach.  Quick-drawn  breathing  became 
audible — so  near,  that  she  could  almost  feel  it  stir  her  hair, 
as  she  crouched  there,  her  head  upon  her  knees.  She  dared 
not  look  up.  All  her  strength  was  gone  at  last.  She  could 
not  have  moved,  even  had  there  been  hope  in  flight. 

The  rustling  ceased  abruptly.  A  stifled  "  Thank  God  !" 
was  all  that  Fadette  heard.  It  was  Matoaca  who  flung 
herself  upon  the  earth  beside  her — in  Matoaca's  arms  that 


196  EASDOLPII  IIOXOR. 

she  sank,  as  cane,  and  trees,  and  moonbeams  whirled  madly 
before  her. 

When  she  revived  from  that  death-like  swoon,  Matoaca 
Tvas  bending  over  her.  She  raised  herself  on  her  arm,  and 
gazed  around  bewildered.  Then  sinking  back,  and  closing 
her  eyes  again,  she  moaned — 

"It  is  all  true,  then — no  dream  !" 

The  silence  which  ensued  was  broken  by  a  deep-drawn 
breath. 

"  The  child  moans  in  her  sleep,"  spoke  Matoaca's  hoarse 
voice.     ''  Is  she  motherless,  that  you  are  here  alone  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  And  Lily  ?" 

"  She  too." 

Another  long,  deep  silence. 

Then  Fadette  ventured — 

"  How  did  you  come  here ?     Where — " 

Matoaca  misunderstood,  and  filled  her  pause  with  en- 
forced calmness. 

"  Where  is  my  uncle  ?  Murdered.  The  brave  old  man.! 
They  had  discovered  our  hiding-jDlace.  One  seized  me  by 
the  arm.  I  wrenched  away,  and  fled  with  the  child,  leav- 
ing my  shawl  only  in  his  grasj).  The  old  man  had  hurled 
him  back,  and  now  standing  unshaken  in  their  midst,  kept 
his  hand  uj^on  his  gun,  and  spoke  to  them.  I  could  not 
hear  his  words,  but  I  saw  the  angry  flash  of  their  bayo- 
nets. I  heard  the  quick  report  of  a  pistol,  and  he  fell 
heavily  to  the  earth.  I  saw  no  more.  They  had  lost 
trace  of  me.  How  I  came  here,  I  know  not.  I  know  noth- 
ing after." 

"  It  was  then  you  who  shrieked  when  they  fired  ?" 

"  I  do  not  remember." 

No  word  more  was  spoken.  The  two  sat  holding  by 
each  other  in  the  dark. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  TOY 

"Hark!  they  are  going  away,"  Fadette  whispered  pres- 

^^And  they  heard  the  trampling  of  the  horses'  hoofs,  pass- 
ins:  near — so  near !  ,  ,r  i 

The  chiki  stirred  in  Matoaca's  arms.  "Mamma!  mam- 
ma!" it  murmured,  nestling  its  plump  hand  on  her  neck. 

And  Matoaca,  glancing  down  by  the  wavenng  light  ot 
the  moonbeams,  saw  that  it  put  up  its  full  red  lip  to  cry. 
One  scream,  and  it  would  all  be  over  with  them ! 

"Yes  yes  darling,"  she  whispered,  tossing  the  child  up. 
"Ah  there's  Birdie!  see  Birdie!  Birdie  sing  May-blossom 
prett'y  son-,  so  she  shall."  Then  catching  the  dimpled 
naked  feet,^she  set  herself  diligently  to  "  shoe  the  horse  and 
shoe  the  mare,"  until  there  was  danger  lest  the  child  should 
laugh  aloud  in  its  glee. 

But  the  trampling  died  away  in  distance,     fehe  touciicd 

Fadette's  arm. 

"  Come,"  she  said. 

"  Where  ?     O  Matoaca,  I  dare  not !" 

"  You  must.     I  cannot  leave  you,  and  I  must  know  if  he 
is  past  all  hope  indeed." 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

SWAMP-AXGELS'    KEST. 

Are  vows  alone  at  chancel-rail 

Made  sacred,  as  they're  fair? 
Shall  one  heart  flower  in  the  ray 
That  leaveth  one  to  waste  away? 

***** 
Ah,  Bweet,  the  scale  wouldst  balance  free  ?- 
Love's  wing  beats  in  too  heavily— 


I OW  quietly  .was  twilight  falling  !  The  illimitable 
forest  stretched  out  far  and  wide,  hazy  with  up- 
risinof  mist  and  down-trailing  moss.      Aisle  after 


aisle  of  forest  arches  opened  up.  For  that  unbroken  floor- 
ing of  water  threw  out  each  slender  shaft  or  massive  column 
clear  and  far  against  the  sleeping  silver.  Down  into  that 
silver  swept  the  silver-gray  moss,  and  the  soft  tint  sub- 
dued all — the  lofty  ashen  trees,  whereon  February,  going 
out  as  a  lion,  had  these  two  weeks  stayed  the  budding 
foliage — the  weird,  out-clutching,  heavy  dark-brown  vines — 
the  fine  green  tendrils  showering  verdure  on  those  giant 
trunks.  Soft  as  yonder  slanting  sunset  ray,  the  lingering 
scarlet  berries  glowed  through  moss-festoons  upon  that 
bush.  And  wand-like  boughs  of  red-bud  bending  low  over 
the  boundless  waters,  found  themselves  reflected  lar  in 
yonder  archway  with  a  lengthened  ray.  Thus,  where  the 
sun  sank  in  full  blaze  of  golden  glory  behind  those  aisles 
on  aisles,  flushed  the  sun-glow  broadening  in  the  west,  and 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  199 

st(?:iling  tlicncc  with  the  fainting  breeze  across  tlie  iij)))los. 
Low-nuinnuring,  these  greeted  its  coming,  and  wliile  tlie 
brandies  stirred  and  rustled  in  the  stiUness,  that  flood  of 
ruddy  gold  crept  half-way  up  the  trunks. 

Crept  half-way  up  the  trunks,  and  half-way  up  an  alien 
object  in  these  flooded  forest  solitudes.  In  the  broadest 
aisle  of  all — where,  when  roads  were,  there  might  have 
been  a  road — stood,  midway  immersed,  a  huge  high-swung 
old-fashioned  family  coach,  without  driver,  without  horses, 
without  sign  of  ownership  or  occupancy.  Until  now,  from 
the  lowered  window  a  young  girl  gazed  anxiously  foi"ward, 
where  were  closing  in  the  shades  of  evening. 

The  shadows  lengthened  on  that  weary  waste  of  waters. 
The  darkness  drew  near  and  nearer,  until  it  seemed  to  press 
upon  her.  Xo  human  sound  in  all  the  stillness.  Only  that 
spectral  rustling,  and  the  mournful  lapping  of  the  ripple 
through  the  trailing  boughs.  IS'o  moving  creature.  Yet 
that  was  surely — no,  nothing  but  a  distant  stump,  across 
which  the  breeze,  breathing  its  last  through  the  tangled 
moss  upon  that  shrub,  had  for  an  instant  flung  a  wavering 
light.  But  hark!  a  heavy  splashing  through  the  w^ater 
far  behind.  All  silent  still  in  front,  whither  she  has  been 
looking  eagerly.  But  from  the  rear,  that  rushing  sound 
echoed  ao-ain  and  asjain,  ever  louder  and  more  loud  from 
wooded  wall  to  dome. 

A  breathless  terror  seized  upon  the  girl.  She  strove  to 
cry  aloud,  but,  as  when  we  cry  in  dreams,  her  voice  had 
lost  its  power,  and  died  away  in  gasps.  She  glanced  out 
upon  the  water's  dangerous  depth,  and  sank  back,  cower- 
ing, into  her  corner,  covering  her  face,  crouching  there, 
awaiting  fate.  Xearer  and  nearer  it  came — with  a  tread 
as  of  horses'  hoofs. 

"  Hallo  !     What  the  deuce  can  this  mean  ?" 

From  behind,  there  came  another  answering  halloo,  and 


200  EAXDOLPII  ITOXOU. 

the  rushing  noise  repeated.  But  Fadelte — trembling,  cow- 
ardly Fadette — had  started  up,  reaching  forth  from  the 
window  two  little  eager  hands.  She  scarcely  needed  the 
wanino^  licrht  to  define  the  broad-shouldered  figure  that 
should  accompany  those  tones. 

"Mr.  Erie!     O  Mr.  Erie!" 

In  an  instant  he  had  reined  in  his  horse,  and  was  at  her 
side,  grasping  her  extended  hands. 

"  What  is  it  ?  TThat  has  happened,  that  you  are  here 
alone  ?"  he  asked  anxiously,  observing  how  they  trembled 
in  his  own,  and  as  he  observed  it,  tightening  his  hold  upon 
them  protectingly. 

What  a  lovely  light  quivered  over  the  blushing  face,  as 
it  leaned  out  toward  him !  How  the  tears  glimmered  in 
the  dark,  deep,  upraised  eyes,  and  glad  smiles  flitted  and 
came  again  around  the  rosy  parting  mouth !  How  trust- 
ingly she  glanced  up  to  meet  that  passionate  gaze  of  his — 
how  maidenly  she  dropped  the  veiling  lashes  now ! 

Yet  in  an  instant  more  she  had  withdrawn  from  his  clasp, 
had  summoned  back  the  old,  mocking  smile,  and  was  gayly 
replying  to  his  question : 

"  Xothing  in  the  world  has  happened,  but  that  you  have 
deprived  me  of  an  anticipated  display  of  heroism.  I  looked 
to  meet  nothing  less  than  a  jayhawker,  a  Yankee,  a  pan- 
ther, or  the  ancient  ghost  of  some  bandit  wanderer  of  Ma- 
§on's  band,  returning  to  the  old  hunting-grounds.  You 
have  come  upon  us  in  an  exodus,  Mr.  Erie.  We  are  on  our 
way  to  Little  Rock,  were  bogged  down  so  that  old  Wash 
had  to  cut  the  mules  loose  from  the  carriage,  and  our  es- 
cort, Mr.  Thorne,  having  discovered,  further  on,  the  top  of 
Mount  Ararat,  has  conveyed  thither  one  by  one,  upon  his 
own  steed,  in  the  double-pillion  fashion,  minus  the  pillion, 
Aunt  Janet.  Amy,  Matoaca — You  have  heard  of  the  Sleepy 
Hollow—"  ' 


BANDOLPH  HONOB.  201 

She  stopped  short,  paling  to  the  very  lips  with  the  recol- 
lection of  that  fearful  night.  It  did  not  dwell  upon  her 
memory  daily,  for  persistently  she  fled  from  it.  But  at  a 
careless  word,  a  sudden  sound,  the  very  least  alarm,  it  came 
in  all  its  overwhelming  horror.  And  the  removal  from 
Beauregard,  once  deplored,  she  had  afterward  urged  and 
longed  for. 

"I  have  heard,"  Ruthven  Erie  said,  gravely.  "Miss 
Yaughan,  then,  remains  with  my  aunt  ?" 

"  And  the  child — all  that  is  left  to  her  to  love,"  sighed 
Fadette. 

"  Xo,  there  is  one,  whom  if  she  would — " 

He  paused.  For  now  approached  the  splashing  through 
the  perturbed  waters,  and  he  turned  to  present — 

"Mr.  Weir." 

"  Mr.  Weir !"  Fadette  re-echoed  the  name  with  a  glad 
cry  of  surprise.  Flushed  with  pleasure  for  Amy's  sake,  she 
started  up. 

But  tears  rushed  to  her  eyes,  when,  instead  of  the  stal- 
wart young  soldier  she  had  one  evening  seen,  a  worn  ema- 
ciated figure  met  her  view.  And  to  her  cordial  greetings 
he  slowly  extended  the  left  hand.  The  right  sleeve  was 
looped  empty  across  his  breast. 

An  expression  of  pain  passed  across  the  haggard  coun- 
tenance observing  her.  And  she  hastened  to  pour  forth 
incoherent  exclamations  of  Amy's  joy — with  lashes  down- 
cast, lest  he  should  read  her  pity.  Ruthven  Erie  came  to 
her  assistance. 

"  Hark !"  he  said,  "  there  is  a  movement  ahead — Thorne 
coming  this  way  probably.  Just  ride  on,  Weir — Amy 
will  not  forgive  us  even  these  moments — and  turn  him 
back  with  you.  If  you  still  persist  in  desiring  to  be  in- 
cognito at  first,  give  yourself  another  name.  You  can 
remain  in  the  background  as  you  please.     Say  that  I  am 

9* 


202  BANDOLPE  HOIs^OR. 

in  charge  of  this  carriage.  Shall  it  not  be  so  ?"  he  added, 
to  Fadette. 

She  assented,  and  Mr.  Weir  rode  slowly  on. 

"  Poor  fellow !  he  dreads  Amy's  first  glance,"  Mr.  Erie 
said  sadly,  looking  after  nntil  he  had  disappeared  among 
the  distant  shadows.  "  But  you  have  not  told  me  how  you 
happen  to  be  left  here  alone.  Thorne  does  not  deserve  to 
be  trusted — " 

"  Stay,"  she  interrupted  his  half-angry  speech ;  "  don't 
pronounce  judgment  in  such  headlong  haste.  It  was  not 
Mr.  Thorne,  but  a  combination  of  courage  and  cowardice 
on  my  own  part.  Amy  and  I  were  the  last  occupants  of  this 
Koah's  Ark,  and  when  Mr.  Thorne  returned  for  us,  I  in- 
sisted upon  Amy's  going  with  him,  volunteering  to  follow 
on  a  mule  which  Uncle  Washington  should  lead.  But  after 
Amy  was  fairly  off,  so  great  waxed  my  terror  of  my  long- 
eared  friend's  knowing  way  of  twitching  up  his  ears  and 
switching  his  shaven  tail,  that  I  sent  Washington  on  to  re- 
call Mr.  Thorne,  when  he  should  have  deposited  Amy  in 
safety.  Mr.  Thorne  must  have  heard  your  halloo,  for  Uncle 
Wash  is  a  slow  mover,  and  would  hardly  have  reached  him. 
But  may  I,  on  my  part,  inquire  into  your  mysterious  ap- 
pearance ?" 

"  Amy's  letter  actually  reaching  me  in  a  week  after  Mr. 
Rutledge's  capture — your  unprotected  state  upon  the  river 
— my  desire  to  remove  you  into  safer  vicinage — the  se- 
quence is  easy  to  an  application  for  transfer.  Xorman 
Weir,  incapacitated-  for  service  in  the  field,  will  obtain  a 
clerkship  at  Little  Rock,  and  I  join  the  Missouri  cavalry, 
Thome's  regiment.  We  arrived  at  Beauregard  this  morn- 
ing, learned  your  movements,  and  pushed  on  with  all  speed, 
doubting  nothing  of  overtaking  a  carriage,  on  our  gallant 
chargers." 

"  Oh,  such  a  journey,  Mr.  Erie !     The  bayous  we  liave 


rxANDOLPII  IIOXOR.  203 

swum,  tlie  bogs  we  liave  stalled  in,  the  ocean  we  have 
stemmed — making  five  long  miles  from  dawning's  first 
light !  To  twiliglit's  last  shade,  I  must  add,  if  you  do  not 
speedily  perform  your  duty  as  knight-errant  of  forlorn 
damsels." 

lie  lifted  her  to  her  place  behind  him,  and  curbing  strongly 
his  impatient  horse,  on  they  plunged  and  floundered  through 
flood  and  mire,  she  now  and  then  crying  out,  and  involun- 
tarily catching  his  arm  as  water  deepened,  or  mud  afforded 
footing  yet  more  treacherous. 

"  And  now,"  said  Ruthven  Erie,  over  his  shoulder,  when 
at  last  they  went  on  more  evenly,  "  have  you  nothing  to 
ask  concerning  one  Ruthven  Erie,  since  Amy  says  all,  save 
one  fragment,  of  his  last  six  months'  letters  to  '  Beauregard' 
miscarried  ?  Did  you  never  feel  curiosity,  not  to  say  the 
shadow  of  interest,  for  his  fate  ?" 

The  word  "  letters"  brought  associations  which  militated 
against  his  earnestness. 

"  Aye,"  she  said,  smiling  slightly,  "  both  curiosity  and 
interest  were  rampant,  until  not  very  long  ago  Matoaca  re- 
ceived an  epistle  which  apparently  contained  no  food  for 
either,  but  from  the  advent  of  which  we  concluded  you  yet 


*  The  glorious  hand 
"Who  battle  for  their  native  land.' " 

"  I  wTote,"  he  began,  but  ended  abruptly  there. 

"I  know  you  did,"  Fadette  replied  mischievously ;  "  and 
really  my  curiosity  was  in  so  starving  a  condition,  that  had 
the  recipient  been  other  than  Matoaca,  with  her  grand  ideas 
of  honor,  and  her  rigid  justice,  I  should  have  committed 
petty  larceny,  and  stolen  a  perusal — just  as  I  was  strongly 
tempted  with  that  billet  you  intrusted  to  me  for  Mrs. 
Brown.     By  the  way,  she  sent  me  a  most  singular  note  in 


204r  RAXDOLrn  Hoxon. 

return,  evidently  thinking   either  you   or  I  quizzing  her. 
TThat  could  you  have  written  ?" 

He  looked  at  her  fixedly,  but  she  met  him  with  a  glance 
so  innocently  unconcerned,  that  he,  uncertain  whether  to 
doubt  or  to  believe,  merely  returned  carelessly — 

"  Mrs.  Brown  or  I  must  be  strangely  obtuse.  And  while 
on  this  subject,  I  have  in  my  saddle-bags  a  letter  from  your 
friend,  Captain  Randolph,  whom  I  met  of  late  in  Rich- 
mond." 

Splashing  and  j^lunging  at  this  moment,  floundered  the 
horse  through  treacherous  bog,  and  through  water  saddle- 
skirts  deep.  But  though  her  horsewomanship  was  tested 
severely,  Fadctte  this  time  made  no  movement  to  cling  for 
safety  to  Ruthven's  arm.  Only  when  the  danger  was  past, 
and  the  horse  once  more  stepped  cautiously  on,  she  asked, 
in  a  tone  which  she  vainly  strove  to  render  perfectly  mat- 
ter-of-course : 

"  ^Aliat  did  he  say  ?     I  have  heard  nothing  for  months." 

"  What  did  he  say  ?  Much  of  letters  written,  letters  un- 
answered. Less  of  valorous  deeds  in  battle,  than  report 
says  for  him.  Most  of  a  little  sister-playmate.  Something 
of  his  brother's  possible  release  from  Lafayette." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Erie !  Do  you  think  he  will  really  be  re- 
leased?" 

Another  plunge  of  the  horse,  and  a  hand  laid  softly  on 
his  arm. 

He  turned  abruptly,  and  looked  at  her.     He  thought : 

"Can  it  be  possible?  Is  it  not  the  guardian,  then,  but 
the  playmate  ?" 

He  replied : 

"  Your  friend  had  strong  hopes.  He  said  there  was  no 
testimony  against  his  brother,  and  that  friends  were  en- 
deavoring to  procure  his  freedom.  Said  that  he  would  not 
take  the  oath,  and  that  the  underground  railway  might 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  205 

probably  brino-  him  among  us  sooner  or  later.  But  all  this 
may  require  time." 

"  I  am  so  glad  !  so  glad  !" 

For  one  instant  he  did  not  speak.  Then  he  responded  in 
a  deep  low  voice : 

"  You  can  never  thank  God  for  it  so  truly  as  I." 

"You?" 

She  could  only  stare  in  amazement.  There  was  no  an- 
swer to  inquiring  eyes  in  the  broad  shoulders  presented  to 
their  view.  She  strove  to  steal  a  glance  at  the  reverently- 
bowed  face,  but  at  the  risk  of  her  equilibrium  could  gain 
no  more  than  that  extreme  wave  of  the  flowing  fair  mous- 
tache. Coming  to  the  determination  never  again  to  ride 
behind  Ruthven  Erie,  of  all  people,  she  reiterated : 

"  You  ?     I  really  do  not  see — " 

"The  camp-flre  light?  Yonder  to  the  left,  through 
those  tall  canes.  See  the  white  smoke  curling  w^  against 
the  moss-grown  trees,  and  the  broad  far-reddening  glow 
across  the  water.  And  hark !  Thome's  halloo  to  guide 
us." 

As  the  canebrake  opened  in  a  narrow  straight  green 
avenue, 'appeared  a  ridge,  or,  in  truth,  a  tiny  oval  island, 
large  enough,  and  only  large  enough,  to  meet  all  desires  as 
a  camping-ground.  Dim  between  surrounding  cane,  upon 
which  already  were  feeding  the  unharnessed  mules,  gleamed 
water  upon  every  side.  White-tented  wagons  were  ranged 
in  a  line  at  the  remote  "  Land's  End,"  and  on  either  hand 
burned  the  large  camp-fli'es  of  the  negroes,  who,  in  groups 
of  men,  women,  and  children,  basked  in  the  glow  at  supper. 
Snatches  of  wild  choruses  echoed  sonorously  with  the  ring 
of  the  wood-choppers'  axes,  as  the  young  trees  tottered  and 
fell  beneath  their  strokes.  Thence,  with  a  carpeting  of 
mosses,  ferns,  and  dwarf  cane  scantily  covering  the  rich 
black  earth,  an  open  space   stretched   away  to  the   near 


203  EAXDOLPII  IIOXOR 

point  of  the  island.  There  rose  a  noble  forest  group,  the 
slender  polished  leaves  of  the  water-oak  flashing  out  among 
light  budding  haekberry  and  gum,  and  the  red-oak's 
heavy  moss-draped  boughs,  in  the  flickering  flames  of  a 
miglity  camp-fire.  Those  flames  flickered  also  redly  on  the 
two  long  white-covered  wagons  drawn  up  just  beyond  as 
sleeping-apartments.  But  brightest  of  all  they  glowe'd 
where,  around  the  blazing  logs,  upon  a  brilliant  flooring  of 
scarlet  and  blue  saddle-blankets,  was  gathered  the  party  in 
cpiest  of  which  Fadette  and  Ruthven  Erie  rode  on. 

"  A  name  for  our  desert  island ! "  cried  Fadette,  when, 
later  in  the  evening,  the  travellers  were  all  assembled 
round  the  camp-fire.  "  Xot  name  it  ?  What  exploring 
expedition  ever  had  a  better  right  ?  It  is  no  island,  you 
say  ?  Then  all  the  more  probably  no  one  has  discovered 
it  before  us.  For  certainly  there  never  was  a  flood  like 
this  since  the  Great  Deluge,  when  these  wilds  were 
uninhabited." 

"  That  is  no  cela  va  sa?is  dire,''''  Matoaca  smiled.  "  The 
Indians  contend  they  were  the  first  of  creation,  on  this 
continent  too,  and  have  their  own  tradition  of  the  Deluge. 
Yes,  these  wilds  were  wrapped  in  utter  darkness  days  on 
days,  and  at  the  last  a  far  white  light  was  seen  aloft,  still 
rolling  on,  until  it  broke,  a  huge  wave  which  engulfed  the 
world." 

"  Ah,  then,  we  must  have  an  Indian  name,"  said  Amy. 

"What  prettier  than  Chicora?"  Harry  Thorne  de- 
nianded,  with  an  admiring  glance  toward  the  owner  of 
that  sobriquet. 

"  Xothing  prettier,  indeed,"  she  returned,  laughingly ; 
"but  many  things  more  appropriate.  Xot  a  mocking-bird 
to  be  heard  this  evening,  Avhereas  all  these  gutturals 
from  brake  and  bayou  might  assuredly  suggest  Swamp 
Angel." 


BANDOLPU  IIOKOR.  207 

'•  S^vamp  Angels'  Rest  ?  So  be  it,"  pronounced  Ivuthven, 
tlirowing  himself  beside  her ;  "  for  here  ends  our  croaking 
over  perils  in  the  way." 

"  And  do  you  know  the  legend  of  the  Swamp  Angels  ? 
Unquestionably,  just  here  it  had  its  origin." 

"  xVnd  do  you  know,  Matoaca,"  cried  Fadette,  "  what 
every  one  incurs  who  only  names  the  name  of  legend  in 
my  presence  ?  " 

Her  friend  smiled. 

"  A  dire  penalty,  no  doubt.  But  perhaps  the  Arabian 
proverb  might  apply — "  Curses,  like  young  chickens,  still 
come  home  to  roost.' " 

Fadette  returned  a  reckless  shake  of  the  head.  And 
while  Harry  Thorne  seconded  her,  Amy  started,  for  in 
stentorian  tones  a  bullfrog  close  at  hand  demanded,  she 
declared,  a  recital  so  nearly  touching  himself  and  family. 

"  Only,  no  '  bullfrog  dressed  in  soldier's  clothes,' "  stip- 
ulated Mr.  Erie. 

"  ISTo,  no — an  Indian  tradition.  In  virtue  of  the  drop  of 
red-man's  blood  in  my  own  veins,  you  must  have  perfect 
faith  that  I  render  it  aright. 

"  Once  upon  a  time — so  long  ago,  indeed,  as  a  time,  times, 
and  the  be2:inninQ^  of  times — the  remnant  of  an  ancient 
warlike  tribe  had  journeyed  far  to  this  primeval  wood. 
Hither  they  were  fled  from  their  ancestral  hunting-grounds — 
the  boundless  prairies  which  the  white  man  now  claims  for 
himself  as  Texas,  the  soil  of  which  his  foot  at  that  day 
never  trod.  But  other  enemies  had  swept  them  forth,  and 
driven  them  here  to  the  dense  forest,  where  the  earth  no 
longer  trembled  at  the  thunderous  trampling  of  the  buftalo, 
and  but  the  deer  invited  to  the  chase.  A  race  more 
numerous  had  raised  the  warwhoop  against  them,  and  the 
bones  of  many  warriors  lay  bleaching  in  the  sun  on  those 
unshadowed  meadows,  where  the  jDrairie  wolves  had  left 


20S  RAXDOLPII  IJOXOB. 

them  bare.  And,  too,  the  Sj^irit  of  the  Fire  had  surged 
down  in  a  sulphurous  cloud  upon  their  village,  with  his 
bow  of  flame  bent  over  it,  and  there  struck  down  or 
wrapped  in  his  embrace  full  many  a  fugitive,  so  that  of  all 
their  braves  and  mighty  men  but  one  remained.  The 
fragment  of  the  tribe  was  spiritless  and  cowardly — a  very 
race  of 'old  women.' 

"  But  Tah-we-que-nah,  the  young  chief  and  mighty  medi- 
cine-man, still  led  them  on.  His  fearless  heart  was  touched 
with  compassion  for  the  trembling  and  degenerate  crea- 
tures of  the  warrior  band  his  fathers  had  led  forth  to 
battle.  For  he  trusted  that  their  conduct  was  the  spell  of 
some  magician  among  their  enemies,  which  in  due  course 
of  time  his  own  great  power  would  dispel. 

"  And  so,  although  his  own  soul  burned  for  nobler  game 
for  his  unerring  arrows  than  the  timid  deer,  and  fringe 
upon  his  leggings  worthier  of  a  brave  than  that  of  buck- 
skin— still,  he  lingered  here  from  summer  until  spring-tide, 
with  the  shadow  of  his  tribe. 

"  On  none  of  those  young  men  whose  brows  yet  bore  the 
traces  of  the  war-paint,  and  who  yet  at  evening  sang  the 
deeds  of  former  braves,  while  in  the  wigwam  idly  lay  the 
tomahawk  and  scalping-knife — on  none  of  those  did  all  the 
maiden's  eyes  turn  as  on  the  gallant  chief.  But  among  all 
whose  long  dark  hair  was  loosened  from  its  braid,  and 
whose  deer-skin  tunic  was  wrought  and  decked  with  beads 
to  catch  his  observation,  it  was  only  on  the  lovely  TTee-ne- 
on-ka  that  he  looked.  And  every  glance  so  pleased  the 
Bending  TTiiloAV,  that  she  was  to  be  his  bride  upon  the 
morrow. 

"  The  sun  went  down  as  brightly  as  it  did  this  evening — 
not  on  a  boundless  waste  of  waters,  but  a  vast  rich  o-rassy 
level^ spread  beneath  the  budding  foliage  and  the  evergreen 
cane.     And  there,  just  where  you  sit,"  she  added,  turning 


RANDOLPH  IlOXOn.  209 

to  Fadettc,  "  stood  Tah-we-quc-nah  and  his  Wee-no-on-ka — 
save  that  that  willow  against  which  you,  Mr.  Erie,  are  lean- 
ing, was  not  there.  Her  head  bowed  down  upon  his  arm, 
which  drew  her  close,  they  murraured  love's  vows,  until  it 
seemed  the  very  trees  might  learn  the  oft-repeated  whisper. 

"  So  they  parted. 

"  On  the  morn  that  was  to  be  the  wedding-day,  the  sun 
which  rose  at  last  from  boding  banks  of  cloud,  was  greeted 
with  a  wailing  shriek.  By  what  strange  freak,  or  magic 
of  a  still  pursuing  foe,  the  mighty  Mississippi  had  over- 
flowed its  shores  and  swept  across  the  intervening  miles,  all 
in  one  night,  remains  a  mystery — but  so  it  was.  AYater, 
water,  creeping  in  on  every  side — water  gurgling  through 
the  trailing  moss,  and  lapping  through  the  cane,  and  moan- 
ing with  a  sullen  threatening  about  the  cypress  knees  and 
gnarled  old  vines  which  writhed  and  coiled  like  w^aterr 
snakes.  Still,  water  flaring  with  a  vast  relentless  eye, 
which  peered  around  each  knotted  trunk,  and  glittered 
through  each  green-leafed  shadow. 

"  A  frantic  panic  seized  the  miserable  tribe,  who,  inland- 
bred,  were  ignorant  that  it  was  the  habit  of  the  great  Fa- 
ther of  Waters  to  pay  this  annual  visit  to  his  children,  the 
bayous  and  the  sloughs. 

"  Calm  among  the  cowards  who  were  madly  running  to 
and  fro,  stood  Tah-we-que-nah.  He  came  forth  from  his  wig- 
wam, his  medicine-bag  across  his  shoulder,  and  he  called  on 
the  young  men,  who,  overavred  by  his  commanding  tones,  a 
moment  ceased  their  cries  and  lamentations. 

"  '  Why  do  you  fear,  my  children  ?  The  Great  Spirit  can- 
not hear  you  when  terror  drags  your  voices  down  to  earth. 
Rejoice,  and  look  upon  the  flood — it  is  a  sign  he  still  re- 
members you.  See  how  it  closes  round  you  here,  and  soon 
will  leave  no  resting-place.  My  young  men  and  warriors, 
the  Great  Spirit  does  not  will  tliat  you  should  lurk  here  in 


210  EAXDOLPII  IIOSOU. 

these  solitudes,  wliere  rust  your  tomahawks.  He  would 
liave  you  on,  to  wash  them  bright  again  in  your  foes' 
blood  !  Listen,  my  young  men,  and  let  your  heart  grow 
strong.  Last  night  this  Great  Medicine  sent  your  chief  a 
dream.  lie  and  you  were  journeying  westward — west- 
ward— where  the  mighty  buftalo  is  waiting  for  your  arrows 
on  your  liithers'  hunting-grounds.  On,  Avarriors — the  Great 
Spirit  Ts-ills  it !' 

"  But  not  one  moved  at  his  command.  Only  "Wee-ne-on- 
ka  drev\'  a  footstep  nearer,  bending  in  her  weeping,  till  her 
long  black  hair  swept  down  upon  the  ground. 

" '  Vree-ne-on-ka,  you  at  least  will  come,'  he  said,  and 
stretched  his  hand  out  toward  her. 

" '  T^"ee-ne-on-ka,  rest  with  me,'  a  young  man  whispered 
who  had  vainly  sought  her  for  his  bride,  '  and  we  will 
climb  yon  tallest  oak,  and  wait  together  far  above  the 
waters,  till  they  ebb  away.  And  surely  that  is  w^iser  far 
than  roving  westward,  where  the  Evil  Spirit  lies  in  wait 
for  us.'  " 

"  So  TTee-ne-on-ka  turned  in  fear  from  Tah-we-cpie-nah. 

"  Tah-we-que-nah's  midnight  eyes  flashed  like  the  light- 
ning.    Yet  once  more  he  spoke : 

" '  Will  no  one  of  my  brothers  follow  me  ?' 

"  Half  the  tribe,  in  idiocy  of  dread,  had  set  themselves  to 
burrowing  in  the  ridge,  already  dank  with  seapiage,  in  the 
frenzied  fancy  to  conceal  themselves  from  the  approaches 
of  the  foe.  Swayed  by  his  voice,  they  took  a  step  now 
toward  him,  but  the  glitter  of  the  water  drove  them  back. 
And  thus  they  hesitated,  silent,  moving  to  or  fro  with  every 
word  from  him,  or  every  gurgle  of  the  ripples. 

"  But  a  din  of  voices  answered — from  the  canebrake, 
where  some  sought  to  hide  from  the  subtle  enemy,  and 
from  the  trees,  which  others  climbed  in  haste. 

"  'But  the  waves  are  surely  gleaming  westward  I     They 


BANDOLPII  IIOXOE.  2 1 1 

will  soon  go-  round,  go  round,  go  round !'  groaned  deeply 
forth  one  chorus. 

"  '  We  cannot  follow.  If  we  move,  we  must  step  in,  step 
in,  step  in  !'  in  a  higher,  sharper  key  of  great  disgust,  a 
second  made  rej^ly. 

"  '  Xo,  no,  we'll  not  descend.  Down  there  it  must  already 
be  knee  deep !  knee  deep  !  knee  deep !'  shrilled  forth  a 
third  from  their  position  in  the  trees. 

"  Tah-we-que-nah  cast  a  slow  and  scornful  glance  on  all, 
and  then  he  flung  the  mystic  pouch  down  heavily  at 
Wee-ne-on-ka's  foot. 

"  He  turned,  A^ouchsafi ng  not  one  backward  glance,  and 
throwing  himself  upon  his  jet-black  steed,  he  dashed  into 
the  flood,  his  front  set  firmly  westward. 

"  The  splash  of  those  departing  hoofs  smote  on  the  hearers' 
hearts.  AYee-ne-on-ka  shivered,  and  leaned  forward  hesi- 
tatingly, her  arms  outstretched.  The  burrowers  advanced 
one  uncertain  step — ^instantly,  however,  amended  by  two 
backward.  The  timid  croakers  one  and  all  opened  their 
mouths  wide,  to  shout  the  chief  a  final  warning, 

"  But  that  instant,  through  the  branches,  came  the  last 
glimpse  of  the  night-black  horse,  and  of  the  young  brave's 
nodding  crest  of  scarlet  eagle  plumes,  which  flamed  across 
the  waves.  With  that  last  glimpse  Wee-ne-on-ka  shivered 
again,  and  the  first  ripple  laved  her  feet. 

"  She  would  have  sprung  back  in  her  terror,  but  she  had 
lost  all  power  of  motion.  She  stood  rooted  to  the  spot. 
She  felt  strange  throbbings  through  her  every  limb,  and 
swayed  and  quailed  at  every  gust  of  wind.  The  lovely 
Wee-ne-on-ka  was  indeed  become  a  bending  willow,  always 
leaning  towards  the  west,  and  sighing  mournfully  with 
every  breath.  She  turned  one  parting  human  glance  in 
supplication  to  the  lately  fixvored  lover.  He  no  longer 
held  her  hand.     A  bright  green  tree-frog  leaped  up  in  the 


212  RAyDOLPII  IIOXOR 

boughs,  and  all  the  croaking  mouths  were  gaping,  all  the 
woods  rang  out  with  chiming  choruses.  Hark !  you  may 
hear  them  even  now — the  deep,  gruff  bass,  '  Go  round  I 
go  round  !  go  round  !' — the  jeeringly  ironical  '  Step  in  ! 
step  in  !  step  in  !' — the  shrill  '  Knee  deep  !  knee  deep  ! 
knee  deep  !'  of  the  tree-frogs. 

"  The  tribe  has  spread  to  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe, 
waxed  mighty  in  its  ignominy.  Its  burrowing  crawfish 
band  has  wandered  far,  and  taught  to  many  a  man  its  gait. 
Many  centuries  later,  however,  some  of  this  band,  journey- 
ing laboriously  toward  the  Choctaw  nation,  were  captured, 
and  the  medicine-men  restored  them  to  the  human  form. 
But  when  they  told  the  story  of  the  frogs,  the  great 
magicians  shook  their  heads.  Those  croaking  noisy  cow- 
ards should  no  more  be  named  among  the  red-men.  But 
stay,  Mr.  Erie,  don't  lean  too  heavily  on  Wee-ne-on-ka." 

Ruthven  shifted  his  position. 

"  She  bears  too  great  a  weight  of  wickedness  and  cen- 
turies, eh?     And  Tah-we-que-nah,  what  became  of  him?" 

"  After  the  manner  of  red  men  and  wliite,  went  his  ways 
and  found  another  Bending  Willow,  who  bent  only  to  his 
sway." 

"  So  "Wee-ne-on-ka  was  the  unchanged  one  after  all  ?" 
And  he  looked  up  into  the  rustling  boughs  and  repeated : 

"  •  Beneath  youi*  boughs,  at  fall  of  dew, 
By  lover's  lips  is  softly  told 
The  tale  that  all  the  ages  through 
Has  kept  the  world  from  growing  old. 

"'And  still,  though  April's  buds  unfold, 
And  summer  sets  the  earth  a-leaf, 
And  autumn  pranks  your  robes  with  gold, 
You  sway  and  sigh  in  graceful  grief  " 

All  listened  to  the  whisper  of  the  branches  through  the 
stillness. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  2  13 

"Mamma,"  cried  little  Janet  to  the  pale,  unheeding 
mother,  on  whose  lap  she  leaned,  and  who,  after  the  momen- 
tary excitement  of  her  nephew's  greeting,  had  relapsed 
into  her  usual  self-wrapped  state—"  Mamma,  I've  known 
for  a  coon's  age  that  the  frogs  keep  saying  that.  But 
do  you  know  what  the  owl  says  too?  Now  if  I  tell 
you,  please  ma'am,  mamma,  don't  look  that  a  way,  so  far, 
far  off." 

And  the  child  began  her  story  eagerly. 
"  Mamma,  there  was  once  an  old  no-account  uncle — he 
named  Tom— going  through  the  woods  one  dark,  dark 
night,  so  dark  that  he  was  mightily  afraid,  and  slipped 
along  as  easy  !  AVhen  suddenly,  right  through  the  cane- 
brake  close  beside  him,  came  a  rustling,  and  somebody 
called  out : 

"  '  Who,  who,  who  boy,  you  ?' 

"'Mars'  Billy's  Tom,  Sir,  going  to  wife-house,'  and  he 
kept  on  fast  as  he  could  clip  it,  for  he  had  no  pass,  and 
wasn't  after  any  good. 

"  But  he  hadn't  taken  two  steps,  before  he  heard — 
"  '  Who,  who,  who  boy,  you  ?' 
"  '  Mars'  Billy's  Tom,  Sir,  going  to  wife-house.' 
" '  Who,  who,  who  boy,  you  ?' 

" '  Mars'  Billy's  Tom,  Sir,  going  to  wife-house— don't  I 
keep  a  telling  you  ?'  he  called  back,  as  cross  and  as  crabbed 
as  old  Daddy  Rabbit,  what  had  an  apple,  and  a  possum 
come  to  grab  it. 

"  But  crash,  crash,  crash,  went  the  canes  just  then.  And 
the  way  old  Uncle  Tom  just  took  up  his  heels,  and  ran 
like  snow ! " 

Janet  transferred  all  compliments  upon  the  story  to 
Mammy,  who  now  came  to  claim  her.  And  Matoaca 
presently  lifted  her  brow  from  the  golden  curls  of  hei 
namesake,  hushed  to  sleep  in  her  arms.     She  was  impatient 


'JU  RAXDOLPII  IIOXOR 

of  silence — to  people  "vrhich,  dread  memories  too  often 
thronged. 

"  One  and  all  lost  in  meditation,"  she  said ;  "  one  and  all 
gazing  intent  npon  the  flames.  I  have  heard  you  speak  of 
pictures  there,  Chicora.  Xow,  to  break  this  dull  monotony 
creeping  on  us  all,  let  each  one  trace  the  subject  of  his 
thoughts  there  in  some  stirring  scene." 

"  You  first,  Miss  Yaughan  ?" 

"My  legend  has  been  duly  given,  Mr.  Thorne.  Mr. 
Erie,  won't  you  begin  ?  The  subject  of  your  thoughts  ? 
A  war  sketch  ?" 

If  it  were,  he  had  sought  strange  inspiration.  For, 
although  from  his  posture,  half  reclining,  supported  on  his 
arm,  at  Fadette's  feet,  he  too  fronted  the  camp-fire,  yet  the 
eyes,  shaded  by  his  hand,  rested  not  there,  but  unmovedly, 
thus  screened,  upon  Fadette's  dreamful  face.  At  Matoaca's 
appeal,  however,  he  slightly  shifted  his  position,  and  bend- 
ing his  regards  on  the  heart  of  the  flames,  responded 
immediately. 

"  Behold,"  he  said,  ^-ith  a  gesture  pointing  where  the 
fanciful  imagery  of  light  and  shade  flickered  over  those 
massy  glowing  logs,  "  there  they  march,  the  Yandals,  sixteen 
thousand  strong.  See  the  flash  of  their  bayonets  down 
yonder  hill !  Hear  the  tramp  of  their  horse,  charging 
Forrest's  five  hundred !  See  how  we  fall  back  there, 
reluctantly  and  slow,  contending  ever  step  by  step.  Xow 
descends  that  ashen  shadow  on  the  field,  and  shuts  in  the 
red  glare  of  battle.  And  the  evening  and  the  morning  are 
the  first  day.  Light  again — the  morrow,  and  the  foe 
advances.  Yonder,  where  the  grand  old  forest  winds  in 
view  of  Tunnel  Hill,  there  wind  our  grander  Forrest  and 
his  followers.  Within  that  cloud  of  dust  sweeps  on  the 
enemy's  advancing  column,  resting  for  a  space  upon  the 
brow  of  the  hill,  then  drifting  slowly  down.     The  blue- 


RAXDOLPU  IIOXOR.  215 

coat  is  cautiously  ensconced  in  every  ambush,  behind  each 
knoll  and  tree  and  building.  A  shot  is  tired,  and  the  foe 
replies,  while  a  dozen  of  his  skirmishers  rush  across  the 
railway  which — behold  it — traces  itself  darkly  there.  But 
even  as  these  cross,  higher  up,  unaware  of  the  approach  of 
danger,  two  who  '  wear  the  gray*  are  coming  down  the 
road.  Shall  these  be  lost  ?  Forrest  sees,  and  calling  to 
his  side  a  handful  of  his  escort,  with  a  cheer  he  leads  the 
little  squad  to  the  charge  upon  the  enemy  between.  On 
they  dash,  spurring  their  steeds  into  a  headlong  gallop. 
Every  man  behind,  heedless  of  his  own  peril,  is  watching, 
all-absorbed.  A  sudden  pause.  The  fearless  six  are  en- 
veloped in  smoke-wreaths — clouds  from  their  own  rifles. 
For  the  Yankees  are  falling  back — the  two  Confederates 
Sijved.  From  the  hillside  the  foe  fires  upon  the  band,  who, 
their  purpose  accomplished,  turn  to  retreat — three  of  the 
seven,  Forrest  of  the  trio,  wounded." 

Fadette  had  listened  with  flushing  cheek  and  eyes  riv- 
eted upon  the  speaker.  But  now  she  commented,  with  an 
air  of  mocking  indiflerence : 

"  You  say  '  fearless  six,'  and  Hhree  of  the  seven  wounded.' 
I  once  saw  a  play  where  Greek  met  Greek  in  tug  of  war, 
and  the  routed  army,  numbering  in  the  outset  twelve, 
marched  back  thirteen.  Account  for  the  discrepancy,  Sir, 
if  you  please." 

"No  discrepancy,  fair  Incredulity.  May  there  not  be 
six  fearless  ones  in  seven  ?" 

"  Ah,"  she  said,  leaning  forward  as  light  suddenly  broke 
in  upon  her.     "  You  were  there  yourself,  then." 

Ruthven  Erie  was  the  first  to  perceive  the  unwitting 
innuendo,  and  led  the  general  laughter,  in  which  Fadette 
confusedly  joined. 

"And  the  end?  Is  it  really  true?  And  were  you 
wounded  ?"  she  asked,  presently. 


21o  RAXDOLPH  HOyOIi. 

"My  dear  Miss  Chicora,  do  you  not  know  it  is  quite  use- 
less to  question  the  'reliable  gentleman  from  over  the 
river  T  However,  the  enemy  fell  back  in  the  direction  of 
Chattanooga,  Forrest  harassing  them  on  the  march.  For 
your  last,  and,  it  is  to  be  inferred,  least  important  question, 
there  is  still  perhaps  a  slight  answer  here."  And  he 
touched  his  left  arm. 

A  heavy  sigh  escaped  the  pale  lips  of  the  stranger,  who 
had  this  while  stood  silently  leaning  against  a  tree  at  Amy's 
side.  The  shadows  of  the  mossy  branches,  and  the  hat 
pressed  over  his  brows,  shaded  his  countenance  from  her 
view,  but  she  glanced  up  with  a  quick  impulse  of  sympathy 
at  the  dangling  sleeve,  and  tears  glittered  in  the  sweet,  blue 
eyes.     Then  hurriedly  she  called  on  Fadette  for  her  story. 

Fadette's  excuse  upon  excuse  proved  unavailing.  To  her 
pleading  that  not  even  one  poor  fable  would  recur  upon  her 
summons,  Matoaca  declared  that  the  question  was  not  of 
fables,  but  of  pictures  and  of  reveries,  which  she  at  least 
could  not  disclaim,  so  absently  as  she  had  gazed  into  the 
fire. 

"  But,"  Fadette  added,  when,  her  thoughts  thus  drawn 
'through  the  clefts  of  confession,'  she  had  acknowledged 
them,  "  my  reverie  was  the  memory  of  a  long-ago  actual 
dream,  and  besides  being  wild  as  dreams  are,  is  unsuited 
to  the  occasion  in  subject  and  in  length.  "What,  you  will 
still  take  no  denial  ?  Then  on  yourselves  fall  the  weight 
of  the  nightmare,  if  so  it  prove.  If  any  can  doze  through 
it—" 

^'- Requiescat  in  pace ^''  supplied  Ruthven  Erie — "Xow 
dream  your  dream." 

"There" — she  began,  seeking  again  her  pictures  in  the 
fiery  centre  which  had  first  suggested  them — "there  the 
cataract  whirls  and  thunders  with  the  avalanche's  roar, 
down  from  that  giddy  height,  down  through  that  deep- worn 


haxdolpii  noxoR  217 

channel  in  the  rock  wliich  walls  in  pcrpondicnlarly  the 
mountain  river,  glooming  and  darkling  far  below.  A 
narrow  archway  spans  the  chasm  to  the  gray  old  castle 
frowning  above.  In  its  solitary  conrtyard,  leant  against  the 
casement  of  the  banquet-hall,  a  young  girl  in  the  peasant 
garb  of  Switzerland  is  standing  in  the  dark.  I  see  her  in 
my  dream — yet  not  as  a  mere  gazer.  Myself  seemed  en- 
tered into  her. 

"  Around,  the  night  fiills  murkily.  The  casement  rattles 
wildly  in,  while  the  storm  drives  against  it.  With  low, 
deep,  distant  mutterings,  the  blast  is  shriving  the  dying 
day,  in  Avhose  last  smile  the  ivy  on  the  tower  dashes  off 
fast-oatherino'  tears,  cling^inoj  vrith  frenzied   clutch  to   sill 

r^  o  TOO 

and  buttress.  Without  the  castle-gate  crouches  the  howl- 
ing hound,  and  yonder  from  the  northward  ledge  bodes  the 
owl  at  solemn  intervals.  The  ramparts  shake  upon  their 
rocky  base,  as  the  lightnings  over  the  far  mountains  hunt 
down  dreary  shades.  On  yonder  steeple-towered  clift'  the 
dread  Lamraergeier,  whose  vast  Aving  flaps  broken  in  the 
storm,  cowers  down  and  stares  into  the  darkness.  Down 
the  steep,  below  the  castle,  flees  the  shivering  torrent,  while 
here  against  the  battlements,  and  there  in  the  shut-in  glen 
which  they  command,  the  shuddering  pines  bow  down  their 
heads  to  shun  abhorrent  sights  aloft.  Upon  their  posts  the 
sentinels  shrink  against  the  wall,  and  loose  the  slackening 
spear  to  mutter  Aves,  as  Pilate  shrieks  upon  his  mountain, 
while  the  stern  wind  pauses,  listening,  and  all  foul  things 
brush  against  the  very  face  of  heaven  on  their  sin-black 
wings. 

"  Yet  within  the  castle  all  is  revelry.  The  hoary  minne- 
singer tunes  his  harp  to  rhymes  of  love  and  chivalry.  In 
the  embrasured  casement,  a  thought  withdrawn  from  the 
goodly  company,  that  fair  proud  lady  sits  enthroned  on  tlie 
carven  chair  of    oak.     While,  most  like   a  knight-errant, 

10 


218  BAKDOLPH  HOXOR 

returned  for  the  conqueror's  crowning  at  her  ovm  white 
hands,  the  noble  Lord  of  Arnheim  leans  above  her  chair. 
She  smiles  up  into  his  darkly  handsome  face  as  reverently 
he  touches  her  hand  to  his  lips — smiles  through  tears  while 
she  listens  to  his  words,  for  they  are  all  of  parting  on  the 
morrow.  In  tournament  these  three  days  past  he  won  the 
hand  he  holds,  yet  the  proud  Count  of  Geierstein  would 
yet  further  prove  such  claim  to  his  only  daughter,  the  fair 
young  Countess  Amalia.  A  year  and  a  day  from  the 
coming  dawn  is  Herman  of  Arnheim  to  absent  himself,  and 
in  that  interim  to  win  fame  worthy  of  his  noble  name  and 
of  his  noble  bride. 

"  She  smiles  up  into  his  eyes,  and  they  soften  with  tender 
homage  as  he  reads  her  soul's  fair  page,  where  only  his 
name  in  golden  characters  is  written.  So  innocent  a  page 
he  is  not  wont  to  turn,  if  rumor  speaks  truth.  For  even 
from  his  native  Suabia  it  whispers  that  the  house  of  Arn- 
heim claims  a  strange  wild  lineage,  deeply  learned  in 
forbidden  knowledge.  Inasmuch  as  though  they  were 
knight-like  brave,  and  though  the  chase,  the  tilt,  the  battle, 
found  them  ever  to  the  fore,  yet  weird  tales  were  told  of 
their  Suabian  castle — wondrous  lights  were  seen  there, 
mysterious  Paynim  guests  had  free  access  and  seats  above 
the  salt  at  the  Baron's  table,  while  foot-sore  monks  in 
full  odor  of  sanctity  were  bidden  to  rest  them  at  the 
castle  gate,  and  the  cup  of  wine  was  sent  without  to 
them. 

"  She  smiles  on  still,  though  the  minstrel  has  tuned  his 
harp  to  a  new  accord,  and  sings  now  of  absence  and  forget- 
fulness.  Xor  does  the  knight  give  ear  to  other  than  the 
silent  s^jeech  of  her  lovely  eyes.  Xeither  the  music-wail 
within,  nor  the  storm-wail  without,  nor  yet  that  smothered 
moan  close  beneath  the  casement  in  which  he  leans.  Xo 
one  heeds  that.     The  ladv  mav  care  for  the  little  bower- 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  210 

maiden  as  for  the  petted  spaniel  that  cringes  at  iier 
foot.  But  when  the  dainty  trinket  is  bestowed,  the  glitter- 
ing- collar  donned,  she  knows  not,  dreams  not,  of  a  need 
beyond.  Love — yes,  she  loves  the  spaniel  and  tlie  bower- 
maiden — she  strokes  the  shining  brown  coat  of  the  one,  the 
glossy  raven  tresses  of  the  other — would  have  one  fawn 
upon  her  slender  foot,  the  other  caress  her  snowy  hand 
when  it  so  pleases  her  to  put  it  forth.  And  have  they  need 
of  more?  Then  let  the  maiden  mate  her  with  the  gallant 
young  Landsknecht  on  whom  my  Lord  of  Geierstein,  in 
honor  of  faitliful  services  in  tent  and  held,  has  bestowed 
that  Senner-hut  and  pasture  down  the  mountain-side. 
Those  faithful  services  merit  yet  another  boon,  and  thus 
the  noble  Count  and  his  fair  daughter  themselves,  some 
weeks  since,  urged  on  the  fit  betrothal.  Love — that 
will  come  fast  enough.  Surely  she  will  not  dare,  the 
lowly  bower-maiden,  to  lift  her  head — not  dare  to  meet 
with  level-fronting  glance  the  Lord  of  Arnheim's  eyes ! 
IS'ot  dare,  although  the  day  he  came  a  stranger  to  these 
savage  cliffs  she  had  rescued  him  and  his  night-blac]^  steed 
Apollyon  from  imminent  peril.  For  which  service,  she  liaa 
been  duly  recompensed  in  the  bestowal  of  a  dazzling 
jewelled  necklace.  And  had  she  but  worn  that  gaud  dis- 
played this  morning  when  she  crossed  his  path  in  tlie 
courtyard,  he  would  have  remembered  her,  and  given  her 
a  kind  good-morrow.  But,  hid  beneath  the  bodice,  how 
sharply  the  wrought  links  bruised  her  heaving  bosom  as 
she  presses  her  clenched  hands  there  !  Is  it  that  she  loves 
to  look  upon  the  bravery  of  the  gentles,  that  she  lingers 
thus  without,  never  once  removin<y  her  p'aze,  though  the 
wind  plucks  at  her  gay  peasant  garb,  and  rain  falls  drop 
by  drop  from  the  overhanging  ivy  down  the  flushed  and 
burning  cheeks,  and  glitters  on  lashes  moistened  with  no 
tear? 


220  BAxr,OLrn  jioxor. 

"  The  wind  clutches  at  lier  o-arments,  the  storm  lays  a  cold 
touch  on  her  shoulder,  shaking  her  slight  form.  And  iiow 
another  touch  is  laid  there  also. 

"  She  utters  no  cry,  but  the  very  ivy  bough  she  holds  by 
trembles  not  more  than  she  trembles  as  she  turns.  For  the 
slender  stream  of  light  through  the  casement  discovers  to 
her  astonished  vision  no  castle  servitor,  but  a  countenance 
seen  dimly  through  the  uncertain  haze  of  f^ir-otf  childish 
dreams — a  countenance  long  years  forgotten,  now  flashing 
back  uj^on  her.  Again  she  lay,  a  wailing  child,  out  in  the 
tempest,  close  against  the  barred  portals  of  the  castle. 
There  that  man's  weird  shrivelled  face,  with  deep  un- 
earthly eyes,  had  bent  one  instant  over  hers,  that  stared 
wide  open  in  the  lightning  blare,  and  anon,  rousing  the 
warden  with  a  thundering  summons  at  the  gate,  he  had 
vanished,  his  black  robes  blending  with  the  midnight. 

"  He  turns  on  her  now  that  same  gaze,  piercing  to  the  very 
depths  of  her  soul.  And  with  a  quick  movement  she  folds 
her  arms  uj^on  her  bosom,  j^ressing  the  corsage  closer,  lest 
in  that,  tumultuous  heaving  of  her  heart  the  jewels  should 
flash  out. 

" '  Thou  poor  one,'  he  utters,  in  a  tone  hardly  distin- 
guishable from  the  soughing  in  the  ivy ;  '  and  is  it  thou, 
descended  from  long  line  of  Persian  Magi,  that  wilt  stoop 
thy  neck  to  lord  and  lady,  and  mate  thee  with  a  base-born 
churl  ?  Or  hast  thou  nerve  to  yield  thy  will  free  scope  ? 
TTilt  dare  to  look  upon  the  path  that  lies  before  thee,  up  to 
honors,  riches — love  ?     Then  follow  me.' 

*'  She  rivets  her  regards  upon  him,  fear  giving  place  to 
wonder. 

" '  My  path  leads  to  the  Senner-hut,'  she  said,  bitterly. 
'  The  finest  cheeses  are  my  honors,  the  golden  cream  my 
riches.  Love — '  Her  voice  faltered  there,  and  with  a 
shiver  she  averted  her  head.     In  the  movement  her  crlance 


RANDOLPH  UOKOR  221 

again  ft-ll  on  the  casement.  Through  the  tempest's  tran- 
sient hill  she  heard,  as  Arnheim  bent  there  still  : 

"  '  Fair,  is  she  ?  Nay,  by  my  troth,  I  see  not  the  moon 
while  the  sun  is  smiling  on  me.  Yet  I  would  fain  lack  in 
naught  of  gratitude  for  the  life  that  now  is  doubly  dear. 
Is  the  maiden  betrothed,  sweet  lady?  Else,  when  this 
weary  year  and  day  shall  have  passed  by,  thou  shalt  bring 
lier  to  our  Castle  of  Arnheim,  and  there  choose  her  out  the 
bravest  of  all  Arnhei'm's  gallant  retainers,  whom  for  her 
sake — and  thine — we  will  endow  richly  as  befits  thy  faithful 
bower-woman  and  the  savior  of  my  life — my  guide  to  this 
fair  castle,  wherein  I  have  found  more  than  life.' 

"  The  maiden  stays  not  for  the  lady's  words,  but  when  her 
strange  companion  spoke  again,  '  Wilt  follow  me  ?'  she 
moves  in  silence  to  his  side,  and  so  across  the  court- 
yard. 

"  Wilder  than  ever  rages  the  storm,  sweeping  on  in  mid- 
night garments  that  enshroud  the  two  stealing  over  to  the 
sally-port.  Rain  and  wind  patter  and  trail  along  the  pave, 
and  other  footsteps  are  not  heard.  The  sentinel  shudders, 
and  the  hound  at  his  feet  bays  only  at  the  storm.  The 
gates  stand  open  with  no  grating  louder  than  the  blast's 
wild  rattle,  as  again  they  close  behind  the  two,  who  now 
have  crossed  the  perilous  bridge,  and  wend  along  the  tor- 
rent's further  brink.  This  path  to  honors,  riches,  love,  is 
fraught  with  danger,  darkness,  weariness.  Yet  she  pauses 
not,  nor  murmurs.  Only  one  instant's  stay  she  makes.  It 
is  where  above  the  foaming  torrent,  on  a  green  cliff  fringed 
with  pines,  is  perched  a  Senner-hut.  She  glances  through 
the  open  lattice.  A  stalwart  sunny-browed  young  peasant 
has  thrown  himself  ujDon  a  bench  before  the  fire  blazing  in 
the  centre  of  the  apartment.  He  bends  forward,  burnish- 
ing with  careful  pride  the  huge  two-handed  sword  which 
still  bears  marks  of  combat.     Suddenly  he   suspends  his 


222  RAXDOLPU  UOXOR. 

^vhistling  of  that  recklessly  defiant  Yolkslied.  Lifting  his 
head  as  he  tosses  back  the  waving  lock  from  his  bright 
blue  eyes,  he  cries,  looking  on  the  glitteiing  blade  approv- 
ingly— 

" '  Soh  I  my  trusty  friend  I  thou  and  I  stand  ready,  Con- 
federates both,  for  Leopold  and  all  his  Austrians.  Out 
upon  thee  !  shall  Amhenn  dare  more  for  his  gentle  lady  of 
Geierstein,  than  thou  for  Hermione,  the  bright  wild  Alp-rose 
sheltered  in  her  bower?' 

"  The  maiden  without  covers  her  face  with  a  shivering 
moan,  as  the  blade,  waA'ed  over  his  slioulder,  flashes  in  the 
firelight.  Yet  when  the  sapling  larch,  which  leans  with 
her  against  the  lattice,  catches  at  her  scarf  in  the  wind,  she 
breaks  the  branch  impetuously  off,  and  hurries  on. 

"  From  gorge  to  gorge,  from  scarp  to  scarp — along  the 
very  brink  of  the  torrent  revealed  by  blasts  which  for  a 
single  instant  cleave  the  mists  down  to  the  black  waves, 
far  below.  How  those  blasts  mock  at  her  as  they  whirl  up 
gusts  of  spray  and  dash  them  in  her  face !  How  the  mists 
assume  threatening  form.s,  and  circle  giddily  round  that 
strange  guide !     And  still  she  hurries  on — " 

"  What,  that  is  surely  not  the  end  ?" 

"At  that  moment  I  awoke.  Amy — the  j^erilous  path  was 
traversed  while  I  had  fallen  asleep  in  the  sunshine  on  Mount 
Pilatus.  My  guardian  had  been  reading  to  our  assembled 
Alpine  party  the  Great  Unknown's  storm  in  those  soli- 
tudes ;  the  description  of  Castle  Geierstein ;  the  legend  of 
Baron  Arnheim  and  his  black-robed  Gheber  guests,  and  of 
the  fairy-like  Hermione's  mysterious  appearance  at  Arn- 
heim. There  by  her  beauty  and  her  magic  lore  of  forbid- 
den knowledge,  she  soon  won  the  Baron's  heart  and  hand, 
when  one  day  a  drop  of  holy-water  falling  on  the  enchanted 
opal  alvrays  worn  upon  her  brow,  quenched  for  a  time  its 
flame,  and  forever  that  of  her  mortal  life.     But — Oh,  Mr. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  223 

Tliorne,  Mr.  Thoriie !  Confess  that  you,  too,  have  been 
dreaming  during  my  long  dream." 

As  an  invohintary  nod  had  ah*eady  given  assent,  his 
stammered  denial  came  too  late.  And  no  atonement,  Fa- 
dette  in  her  indignation  declared,  was  possible,  save  a  story 
far — yes,  very  for — from  long,  and  which  thunders  of  war 
should  keep  from  being  dreamy. 

"Xo,"  he  returned  to  her  laughing  advice  to  seek  his 
subject  in  the  fire — "I  can  see  there  only  blazing  logs  and 
foiling  chunks,  suggestive  of  nothing  in  the  world  but  heat 
and  light.  Will  you  have  a  bushwhacking  adventure,  in- 
stead of  a  picture  ? 

"  It  was  just  such  an  eA-ening  as  this.  The  sun  was  drop- 
ping— you  must  know,  upon  the  prairie,  he  conducts  him- 
self in  no  such  old-fogy  style  as  to  rise  and  set — was  drop- 
ping like  a  globe  of  fire  down  behind  the  far  level  grassy 
line  which  blended,  ciimsoned,  with  the  crimson  of  the 
skies.  It  was  the  fall  of  sixty-one.  A  score  of  us  were 
lying  grouped  in  bivouac  in  a  fringe  of  trees  upon  the 
prairie.  A  gay  and  festive-looking  crowd,  for  though  Ave 
had  been  riding,  singly,  day  and  night  down  from  our 
homes  in  North  Missouri,  all  but  two  were  newly  gotten-up 
recruits.  I  myself  Avas  magnificently  arrayed  in  blue  Fed- 
eral OA'ercoat,  and  unparalleled  cavalry  boots.  The  only 
ragamufiin  in  our  ranks  was  a  gallant  fellow  who,  with  me, 
had  come  up  from  the  army  on  recruiting-serAdce.  And 
here  at  last  we  were  all  met,  to  find  or  fight  our  way  to- 
gether down  to  our  own  Price.  So,  having  Avon  through  our 
solitary  dangers,  and  had  our  through  of  silence'  and  wari- 
ness, we  imagined  ourselves  fairly  out  of  the  wood,  and 
were  whistling  over  our  progress  rather  loudly  and  defi- 
antly. When  bang  !  bang  !  bang  ! — along  the  woodland 
fringe  Avhich  we,  over-confidently,  had  left  unguarded — 
blazed  away  a  hundred  rifles,  and  a  hundred  horsemen 


224  RASDOLFII  HOXOn. 

dashed  up  at  a  howling  pace.  You  bet  that  music  brought 
us  to  our  feet  in  foster  time  than  *  Boots  and  Saddles.' 
And  never  Texan  officer,  with  his  *  Prepare  to  git,  boys — 
git !' — could  mount  his  men  in  shorter  order.  Xo  room  to 
crawfish  then,  ^liss  Vaughan — we  were  up  and  at  them — 
every  man  resolved  to  prove  on  this  first  field  that  he  be- 
longed to  no  Mackerel  Brigade.  And  how  we  did  pitch 
in  I  Until  at  last  the  enemy  saw  it  good  for  his  whole- 
some to  vamose,  with  a  livelier  *  git'  than  ours,  leaving  in 
his  tracks  some  dozen  dead  or  dying.  But  I  was  past  be- 
holding this  conclusiou— dropped  senseless  with  a  bullet  in 
the  breast. 

"  "When  my  eyes  unclosed  again,  both  conflict  and  pursuit 
were  over.'  A  mound  beside  me  showed  where  our  slain  had 
hastily  been  laid.  Around  me,  stretched  out,  rigid,  more 
than  one  dead  foe.  And  yonder,  our  boys  were  mounting, 
the  two  or  three  severely  wounded  lashed  upon  their  horses, 
to  be  carried  under  cover  of  the  night  to  friendly  shelter. 
They  Avere  leaving  me  for  dead,  then  !  My  vaunted  Federal 
equipments  had  betrayed  me  ! 

"  With  one  mighty  eflbrt,  nothing  short  of  desperation,  I 
raised  my  head.     But  the  cry  died  in  a  gasp. 

"  At  that  verv  instant  I  felt  a  sudden  wrench  at  mv  rieht 
boot — the  self-same,  Erie,  which  so  nearly  did  for  you  last 
winter  at  '  The  Homestead' — and  when  I  gasped  out,  as  I 
have  said,  a  man  sprang  up  with  a  halloo ! 

"  '  What,  not  dead  yet !'  he  cried,  dropping  the  boot  he 
had  been  pulling  at.  '  Xow  that  is  just  my  trifling  luck  ! 
For  if  ever  I  bark  a  live  man,  'twill  be  after  this  !  Look 
here,  you  sir,  Mr.  Yank,  hurry  up,  and  I'll  wait  for  your 
boots.' 

"This  was  said  with  the  most  thoroughly  matter-of- 
course  air  imaginable.  And  the  tattered  comrade  who  had 
ridden  with  me  from  the  southward  army   took  his  seat 


EANDOLPn  HONOR  225 

leisurely  upon  a  log  at  a  short  distance,  his  elbows  on  his 
knees,  his  chin  in  the  hollow  of  his  hands.  He  sent  one 
glance  after  the  departing  rebels,  as  if  to  determine  m  what 
time  it  miivht  be  expedient  for  me  to  bequeath  my  boots. 
And  then,"in  the  twilight,  from  beneath  the  battered  old 
felt,  and  between  the  black  elf-locks  above  and  the  bushy 
beard  beneath,  he  dropped  his  eyes  on  me,  in  courteous 
attendance  on  my  convenience.  It  was  too  much  !  If  that 
had  been  my  last  breath,  it  must  have  spent  itself  m  the 
laugh  which  I  laughed  then  !" 

It  was  re-echoed  now— more  merrily,  no  doubt. 

"  But,  Mr.  Thorne,"  cried  Amy,  "  you  must  not  leave  us 
to  suspect  that  fast  friend  of  your  boots.     What,  then, 

became — " 

"Boots  and  all  here,  Mrs.  Weir.     Your  cousin  enjomed 
brevity.     And  now  your  contribution— you  see  we  are  all 

awaiting  it." 

"Your  story,"  said  Amy,  "recalls  a  certam  bush- 
whacker's glee  I  have  lately  seen.  The  writer,  one  would 
think,  must  in  some  way  belong  to  the  bush— at  all  events, 
sings  con  amove.  But  of  this  you  shall  yourselves  judge." 
This  was  spoken  with  a  sly  glance  toward  Fadette, 
who,  however,  looked  into  the  fire,  almost  too  carelessly 
indiiferent. 

Amy  went  on : 

"  Up,  up,  and  to  horse,  boys !— no  bugle  is  sounding- 
No  drum  wakes  the  forest-born  echoes  surrounding; 
The  gray  mountains  sleep  in  the  moon's  loving  smile— 
The  mocking-bird  lullaby  chanteth  the  while- 
Is' t  for  Liberty  sleeping? 

'•  Afar  o'er  the  prairie  yon  lake  lies  a-dreaming, 
All  dim  o'er  its  breast  the  long  grasses  are  streaming ; 
O'er  their  image  that  star  is  reflected  so  clear, 
It  would  seem  that  m  slumber  the  heavens  draw  near, 
As  the  earth  pales  to  shadow. 
lO* 


226  RAKDOLPH  ROXOR. 

"  Away  to  the  eastward  the  prairie,  reposing — 
The  breeze  on  its  bosom  low  leaneth,  half  dozing — 
Yon  mountains  shut  out  the  fierce  din  of  the  world, 
And  here  o'er  the  forests  the  white  mists  have  curled, 
As  from  peace-pipe  of  nature. 

"  And  here,  where  the  boughs  stir  apart  in  the  gloaming, 
Moving  drowsily  back  for  dreams  going  and  coming, 
They  sleep — though  the  wood-tick  is  sounding  alarms. 
And  the  death-owl  forebodeth — they  sleep  on  theii*  arms, 
That  band  of  guerrillas. 

"  Afar,  the  still  prairie  a  measured  ti-ead  shaketh — 
The  prame's  hushed  heart  'neath  the  iron  heel  quaketh — 
All  blood-red,  Mars  glows  on  the  lake  as  they  pass — 
The  down-trodden  flowers  amid  the  tall  grass 
Bow  their  heads,  weeping  after. 

"  Up,  up,  and  to  arms,  boys  I — the  foe  is  upon  us ; 
Xow  strike  for  the  name  our  right  arm  hath  won  us : 
The}'  come,  but  they  tremble  in  coming — the  hounds  I 
Our  foot  on  our  own  soil,  the  forest  surrounds. 
And  the  bush  is  om-  home,  boys. 

"  Up,  up,  and  to  arms  I  for  the  foe  is  upon  us  ; 
Strike  home  to  the  faint  hearts  whose  fear  hath  undone  us  : 
If  they  trembled  to  shake  off  the  tyrant's  base  chain, 
Before  brothers  betrayed  they  shall  ti-emble  again, 
Base-born  sons  of  Missomi  I 

"  Up,  up,  and  to  arms,  boys  I     The  sword  Vengeance  graspeth, 
And  Libert^^'s  up,  and  her  bloody  hand  claspeth  : 
One  blow  for  the  fond  eyes  that  watch  and  that  weep, 
One  blow  for  the  comrades  since  yestreen  asleep, 
And  all  for  Missomi  I 

"  Up,  up,  and  to  arms,  boys !    Like  wild  beasts  they  hunt  us ; 
Ten  slaves  to  one  man,  thus  the}'  dare  to  confront  us : 
They  bind  us — he's  harmless  who  'neath  their  heel  lies — 
Or  they  lend  him  a  rope  if  he  sti'uggles  to  rise — 
He  mav  rise  e'en  to  heaven  I 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  227 

«  Up,  up,  and  to  amis,  boys !    Remember,  remember, 
How  they  drove  out  ovu-  loved  ones  in  snow's  of  December : 
Our  homesteads  on  tire  glow  red  with  their  shame. 
O  God !  that  wild  shriek  from  the  heart  of  the  flame  !—     ^ 
God !  Thine  is  the  vengeance. 

"  They  are  up— every  man  to  his  saddle-bow  springing, 
So  silent,  they  flight  not  the  mocking-bird  singing  ; 
The  steeds  paw  the  ground,  all  impatient,  nor  neigh, 
For  trackless,  they've  learned,  is  the  bushwhacker's  way, 
And  the  echoes  will  gossip. 

"  Like  the  slow^-gathering  tempest  the  fqe  is  advancing  ; 
Through  the  brush  like  the  lightning  our  rifles  are  glancing, 
Thimder-crash  after  crash— like  the  leaves  in  the  blast. 
As  we  sweep  down  upon  him,  the  foe  fleeth  fast, 
And  he  falls  with  the  dead  leaves. 

"  Hurrah  for  the  bush,  boys !— the  bloodhounds  are  j^elping 
Back,  back  to  then-  kennels— one  volley  more, helping ! 
Gleams  the  steel  of  their  carbines  through  yon  mountain  pass- 
Surge  after,  the  waves  of  the  long  prairie  grass. 
And  the  dead  there  are  theirs,  boys. 

"  To  horse  and  away  !    Ten  to  one  we  have  diiven— 
The  shackles  they  brought  for  our  wrists  we  have  riven ; 
Yet  back  they  will  march  with  their  thousands  amain. 
If  we  seek  not  old  haunts  in  the  mountains  again— 
For  the  winter  on  cometh. 

"  Soon  white  through  the  gray  wood  the  snow  shall  fall  aiiy ; 
If  we  stay,  they  will  track  our  path  o'er  the  prairie. 
A  long  night  in  those  caves— yet  thus  rest  the  free  deer— 
And  woman's  smiles  sometimes  like  moonlight  will  cheer. 
For  they  love— fair  Missouri, 

"  When  the  leaves  come,  adown  with  the  streams  we'll  be  sweeping ; 
We'll  waken  the  land  from  her  long  winter  sleeping- 
Pay  off  all  old  scores  then,  and  any  new  debt : 
Retribution  may  slumber,  but  cannot  forget- 
Then  hurrah  for  the  hills,  boys !" 


228  RAXDOLPU  ITOXOB. 

Riithvcn  Eric's  glance  had  folloAved  Amy's.  ITc  saw 
Fadctte  flush  beneath  the  consciousness  of  it — flush  deeper, 
as  he  thought,  when  Amy  pronounced,  with  a  little  mali- 
cious emphasis,  "  For  they  love — fair  Missouri."  He  leaned 
there  perfectly  indifl*erent  to  the  fact  that  his  unvarying 
scrutiny  must  be  observed ;  watching  her  face  as  though 
an  instant's  movement  must  lose  it  forever;  seeking  in 
every  flitting  expression  there,  the  solution  of  a  doubt 
grown  insupportable  at  last. 

Emotion  after  emotion  surged  rapidly  as  her  blushes. 
Yet  she  dill  not  think.  She  only  felt  dimly  that  the  old 
footing  upon  which  she  and  Ruthven  Erie  had  stood,  was 
in  some  way  swept  away,  leaving  the  next  step  in  the 
future  unsteady  and  uncertain — and  that  he  was  looking 
at  her  as  he  had  never  looked  before — and  that  all  was 
strangely  uncomfortable  and  wrong,  and  yet  so  strangely 
happy  too,  that  she  sat  on  motionless,  afraid  to  break  the 
dream. 

"  And  now,"  said  Amy,  softly,  to  the  wounded  soldier  at 
her  side,  "  will  you,  too,  not  conform  to  our  evening's  rule. 
Sir,  and  give  us  your  story  ?" 

The  stranger  started  and  drew  back  hastily,  seeming  not 
to  have  understood  her  question.  But  .when  she  repeated 
it,  troubled  by  his  isolation  among  the  home-group,  he 
stammered  out,  reluctantly  and  hesitatingly : 

"  I — I  cannot—" 

TTith  the  first  tone.  Amy  had  sprung  to  her  feet. 

"  It  is — it  is  his  voice  !"  she  cried  :  "  Xorman  I  O  Xor- 
man !" 

"Amy!" 

She  threw  herself  upon  his  breast,  speechless. 

"  Then  you  do  not  care,  my  own  ?"  he  asked,  after  a  mo- 
ment thus,  still  holding  her  fast. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  229 

"  Xot  care  !  O  Norman,  for  yon  !  But — anything  that 
brings  you  to  me  once  again !" 

Fadette  slept,  but  toward  dawn  the  freshening  chillness 
roused  her,  notwithstanding  the  manifold  wrappings  pro- 
vided for  such  an  emergency.  She  shivered,  and  drew 
back  the  damp  wagon-cover,  looking  enviously  toward 
the  three  soldiers  outstretched  in  such  apparent  comfort, 
wrapped  in  their  blankets,  on  the  further  side  of  the  camp- 
fire.  On  this  side  was  no  one.  All  continued  so  quiet, 
that  presently  she  began  to  argue  the  propriety  of  stealing 
out  unseen,  to  warm  her  cramped  and  benumbed  limbs.  The 
longer  she  looked,  the  more  impossible  to  resist  the  temp- 
tation. So  she  descended  noiselessly  to  the  ground,  and 
made  her  way  to  the  fire,  the  blazing  pile  between  her  and 
the  trio  of  slumberers,  toward  whom  she  sent  one  hurried 
glance,  fearful  of  observation. 

A  graceful  picture  she  formed  there,  with  the  illuminated 
foreground,  the  white  wagon  as  background,  and  the  dark 
moss-curtained  woods  framing  all  on  every  side,  yet  dis- 
closing a  faint  glimmer  of  water. 

She  knelt  upon  one  knee,  her  small  cold  hands  out- 
stretched to  the  heat, — her  hair,  from  which  the  white  misty 
nube  had  fallen  to  her  shoulders,  and  which  had  escaped 
from  the  confining  comb,  flowing  in  purple-black  ripples 
almost  to  the  ground.  Some  one  there  was  a  connoisseur 
in  pictures,  seemingly.  Ruthven  Erie  these  last  five  min- 
utes had  been  standing  by,  his  arms  folded  and  his  gaze 
fastened  on  her. 

Presently,  rousing  herself  from  the  drowsiness  which  had 
crept  over,  clasping  her  hands  behind  her  head,  and  yawn- 
ing slightly,  she  looked  up,  and  their  eyes  met. 

She  started  and  colored,  moving  as  if  to  lise. 

"  No,  do  not  go,"  he  said,  drawing  near,  and  leaning 


230  nAXnOLPR  noxoB. 

against  the  rustling  oak  which  overshadowed  her.  "I 
came  but  to  see  if  your  fire  was  still  good.  The  dawn  is 
approaching,  somewhat  chilly.     Are  you  chilly  too  ?" 

"  Chilly  ? — I — I — no,  not  now,"  stammered  Fadette,  con- 
fused, she  knew  not  why.  And  hastening  to  fill  the  pause, 
she  added : 

"  You  soldiers  certainly  understand  the  art  of  building 
fires.  Does  the  charm  of  camping-out  lie  chiefly  in  its 
novelty,  Mr.  Erie  ?  Have  I  slept  well,  you  ask  ?  Well — 
in  the  most  delicious  way,  in  dreamful  snatches,  with  the 
gurgle  of  the  water  through  the  cane,  the  trailing  of  the 
moss  along  our  tented  roof,  and  the  far-off  thousand  forest 
sounds.  And  then  to  awake,  and  through  convenient  tat- 
ters of  our  convass,  to  meet  clear  stars  shining  right  friendly 
down !  Ah,  Mr.  Erie,  I  don't  believe  the  stars  are  at  all 
friendly  with  you,  that  shrug  was  so  skeptical." 

For  a  moment  he  made  no  reply,  and  then  he  spoke  in  a ' 
lowered  voice,  still  looking  at  her : 

"  Do  you  remember  when  last  we  watched  the  stars  to- 
gether?" 

"And  d  pro2)os  of  them,  waxed  so  philosophic — yes." 

"  Philosophic  !  Xot  so  I.  Far  other  than  philosophy's 
teachings  was  the  lesson  I  learned  that  night." 

She  felt  it,  as  he  bent  down,  speaking  with  subdued  earn- 
estness. And  she  showed  that  she  felt  it,  while  flush  after 
flush  quivered  over  her  downcast  face,  bowed  lower  and 
lower  from  his  view. 

"  What  was  it  that  I  learned  ?"  he  said,  again. 

She  did  not  reply,  only  trembled  excitedly,  the  shadowy 
lashes  sweeping  her  l)urning  cheek. 

His  hand  closed  gently  but  firmly  on  hers  clasped  to- 
gether. 

"  Listen,"  he  began,  "  and  tell  me  if  that  which  I  then  had 
by  heart,  it  must  indeed  be  my  endless  life-task  to  forget." 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  231 

But  at  that  instant  there  was  a  rustling  at  the  wagon 
curtains.  And  as  Fadette,  without  one  word  or  glance, 
withdrew  her  hands  in  haste,  Amy's  liglit  figure  appeared 
balanced  on  the  wagon's  edge,  and  her  voice  summoned 
Ruthven  Erie  to  aid  in  her  descent  to  warmth  and  cheer. 
And  although  at  the  sound  Norman  Weir  started  up  and 
intercepted  the  cousin,  the  recital  of  the  lesson  was  not 
destined  to  be  finished  on  that  daAvn. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


LAXD-IIO  ! 

"  My  heart,  I  bid  thee  answer : 

How  are  Love's  marvels  wrought?— 

'  Two  hearts  to  one  pulse  beating, 
Two  spirits  to  one  thought.' 

And  tell  me  how  Love  cometh  ?— 

'  It  comes  unsought,  unsent !' 
And  tell  me  how  Love  goeth? — 

'  That  was  not  Love  that  went.'  " 

Fkom  the  German^. 


lAXD-HO !" 

Harry  Thoriie,  who  had  been  riding  in  front  of 
\  the  carriage,  splashed  back  with  this  exclamation. 


Xight  had  at  last  closed  in  darkly  beneath  interlaced  forest 
boughs  curtained  in  with  moss.  The  mules  were  plunging 
blindly  on  through  mud  and  flood — the  leaders  now  hung 
on  this  tree,  now  straining  A'iolently  against  that  stump, 
and  anon  thumping  suddenly  down  into  several  feet  of 
water,  over  the  remains  of  a  swept-away  bridge.  Against 
all  these  perils  the  vigilance  of  careful  Washington,  and 
the  oruidinoj  shouts  and  wind-tossed  torches  of  the  soldier- 
escort,  were  powerless  to  guard.  Since  morning,  when  a 
hastily  constructed  raft  had  ferried  successive  loads  of  pas- 
sengers and  freight  across  the  swimming  water  beyond 
"  Swamp  Angel's  Rest,"  the  "  Swanip  Angels,"  true  to  the 
name,  had  never  emerged  from  bog  and  bayou,  but  floun- 
dered on,  now  swimming,  now  bogged  down,  and  anon  on 
the  verge  of  many  an  upset.  After  a  long  day's  journey 
of  five   miles,  crossing  at    last  a  shallower   slough,   they 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  233 


reached  a  low  ridge,  the  boundary  of  the  swamp,  and  the 
be-mnino-  of  "  the  hills."  Pines  began  to  mingle  at  inter- 
vafs  in  the  growth  of  black-jacks.  A  stone  or  two  occa- 
sionally  elevated  itself  near  scant  dwarf  cane  and  taller 
cockle-burrs.  And  "the  hills"  might  be  seen  in  a  succes- 
sion of  faint  slopes,  by  the  aid  of  as  lively  an  imagmation 
as  was  requisite  to  discern  the  so-called  "bottom  m  the 
flooded  district  just  traversed-in  which,  plunge  as  they 
would,  to  no  bottom  travellers  apparently  attanied. 

"Land-Ho  '"  And  now  a  narrow  clearing  ni  the  wood, 
where  starlight  was  at  last  observable,  and  yonder  the  red- 
der illumination  of  fire-light  in  a  log-cabin.  Desolate  m 
the  midst  of  a  cleared  field,  surrounded  by  a  stragglmg, 
rao-ged  worm-fence,  the  owner  yet  kept  open  house  there, 
if  one  might  look  to  the  broad  chinks  in  the  walls,  through 
which  the  fire  flickered.  ,       .  ,  . 

On  terra  firma,  then,  our  travellers  alighted,  with  much 
grumbling,  however,  and  protestations  that  the  adjective 
could  only  be  used  in  the  comparative,  as  they  made  slow 
proo-ress  through  the  clinging  red-brown  mire  of  the  enclo- 
Lr  Somewhat  to  the  rear,  yet  sufiiciently  in  the  vicmage 
of  the  double  cabin  of  two  rooms,  with  open  hall  between 
and  o-allery  in  front,  two  or  three  negro  cabins  and  out- 
houses were  clustered.  A  cow  rose  up  slowly,  disturbed 
from  muddy  bed  of  repose  by  the  gallery  steps ;  a  number 
of  piers  scampered  squealing  here  and  there;  and  quite  a 
troop'  of  small  African  tatterdemalions  gathered  stanng 
round,  then  sped  away,  summoning  "Mistis"  to  decide 
upon  the  wayworn  case  of  the  travellers. 

Stout  homespun  "Mistis"  proved  compassionate,  upon 
Mr  Erie's  -raphic  delineation  of  "dangers  by  flood  and 
fifeld  "  And  the  self-constituted  guests,  followed  by  some 
half-dozen  gaping  and  grinning  barefoot  children,  white 
and  black,  were  escorted  into  the  sitting-room,  weaving- 


234  RANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

room,  or  sleeping-apartment — claiming  the  three  titles  by 
virtue  of  bedstead,  table,  and  split-bottomed  chairs,  and 
loom  and  spinning-wheel.  The  busy  hum  of  the  latter 
ceased  as  the  eldest  girl  turned  from  it,  dipping-stick  in 
mouth,  on  the  entrance  of  the  strangers. 

The  puncheon-floor  seemed  very  smooth  and  restful  to 
the  weary  ones  who  had  been  jolting  over  flooded  corduroy 
patches,  or  struggling  through  bog,  during  a  three  days' 
journey.  The  prospect  presented  no  hope  of  accommoda- 
tions for  the  night,  although  the  hostess  oflfered  to  vacate 
this  apartment.  But  carriage-cushions,  and  a  blanket- 
spread  floor  before  the  deep  mud  chimney  which  occupied 
with  huore  blazino-  logrs  one  entire  side  of  the  cabin,  were 
the  acme  of  comfort  to  those  who  had  been  cramped  within 
the  carriage  for  so  many  hours.  And  in  the  cheery  roar 
and  cracklino;  of  the  flames,  and  the  q-Iow  thev  threw 
around  on  raftered  roof  and  rough-hewn  walls,  one  forgot 
that  the  wind  whistled  through  crannies  a  hand-breadth 
wide,  from  which  the  mud  cement  had  fallen. 

Altogether,  the  party  assembled  was  a  mei-ry  one.  Ad- 
ventures were  recalled,  much  to  the  amusement  of  the 
audience,  great  and  small,  in  the  background ;  some  slender 
war-news  returned  to  the  interrogations  of  the  hostess, 
whose  husband  and  sons  were  in  the  Cis-Mississippi  armies ; 
and  a  respectfully  inquiring  old  "  uncle,"  who  came  in  to 
replenish  the  fire,  was  informed  that  these  river-people  had 
indeed  seen  a  live  Yankee,  and  that,  though  sufliciently 
appalling,  he  did  not  possess  horns. 

Then  the  ladies  must  examine  the  fine  piece  of  homespun 
now  in  the  loom,  and  learn  how  its  blue  and  green  and  red 
and  yellow  plaids  were  dyed  with  this  or  that  bark  or  stone 
or  earth  ;  and  admire  that  great  roll  of  butternut  jeans  just 
finished  for  soldiers'  use. 

Finally,  though  the  table,  upon  which  were  still  the  re- 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  235 

mains  of  supper,  afforded  evidence  that  the  hospitable  en- 
tertainer lived  upon  the  fat  of  the  land,  Matoaca  had  very 
irraeiously  to  decline  the  offer  of  corn-bread,  middling,  and 
sweet-potato  coffee,  while  she  proposed  instead  to  give  the 
dame  a  cup  of  real  coffee,  that  luxury  denied  by  tne  war, 
and  valued  next  to  snuff. 

Fadette  went  out  upon  the  gallery  to  summon  Wash- 
in<yton  and  provision-basket. 

The  order  was  delivered,  but  she  paused,  detained  by 
the  beauty  of  the  night.  True,  the  full  moon,  just  rising, 
a  -reat  globe  of  crimson  glory,  behind  the  low  slightly 
wa^ed  line  of  woodland,  glinted  across  upon  a  weary  waste 
of  mud  where  the  flood  had  not  long  since  encroached; 
upon  deadened  timber  in  the  fields  around;  upon  the  forest 
of  stunted  black-jacks,  with  their  dull-brown  harshly-rat- 
tlino-  foliage,  closing  in  the  near  horizon,  where  only  an 
occasional  black  pine  uplifted  itself  from  the  monotony. 
But  beneath  the  moonlight's  magic  touch,  the  gaunt  white 
trunks  rose  weirdly  against  dark-blue  glittering  skies;  the 
woods  lay  like  a  murky  storm-drift  beneath  snow-clouds ; 
and  even  the  ragged  worm-fences  wound  along  in  varied 

liffht  and  shade.  .  ,      ^ 

But  other  cause  than  moonbeams  kept  Fadette  without. 
\11  day  long  had  Ruthven  Erie  lingered  beside  her  m 
wait  for  a  word,  a  smile,  which  might  separate  his  atten- 
tions from  those  offered  with  more  manifest  anxiety  by 
younc  Thorne.  Yet  vainly.  In  the  broad  light  of  day  the 
memories  of  the  dawn  waned  mistily  and  dimly,  until  they 
were  unsubstantial  as  a  dream.  But  very  present,  very 
clear,  stood  out  five  moments  in  the  noontide,  while  Ruth- 
ven Erie  had  checked  his  horse  beside  Matoaca  Vaughan. 
Mrs.  Rutledge  and  Amy  had  lapsed  into  drowsy  silenc^e  m 
their  respective  corners  of  the  carriage,  and  Fadette  from 
her  seat  in  front,  might  have  been  presumed  to  take  no 


2U  RANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

note.  But  she  had  seen  Erie  ride  on  there,  his  hand  rest- 
ing on  the  window-sill  close  beside  Matoaca's,  his  strong, 
earnest  face  upraised  to  hers,  with  a  tide  of  troubled 
emotion  sweeping  over  it,  an  impassioned  pleading,  which 
had  thrilled  Fadette's  pulses,  and  made  her  fain  to  turn 
abruptly  to  the  blank  prospect  of  moss-palled  woods,  and 
waters  that  caught  the  long  gray  shadows,  before  her.  She 
stared  on  these  with  a  long  fixed  stare,  that  was  almost 
fierce  in  its  intensity,  while  her  breath  came  in  short  quick 
gasps,  and  her  hands  clenched  tightly  on  each  other.  She 
did  not  move,  thus  leaning  forward,  until  Ruthven  Erie 
dashed  by  without  one  look,  and  rode  on  to  the  front,  where 
Mr.  Thorne  and  Mr.  Weir  were  both  essaying  to  find  a  ford 
across  the  slough.  She  had  turned  sharply  from  watching 
him,  and  in  so  doing  her  glance  had  fallen  on  Matoaca. 
The  face  a  moment  ago  blushing,  downcast,  and  averted, 
was  now  thrown  back  wearily,  wan,  and  pale,  and  the  long 
black  lashes  that  swept  the  marble  cheek  were  freighted 
down  with  one  or  two  large  tears,  while  that  imperial 
mouth  was  set  with  the  stern  triumph,  the  worn  fagged 
after-time  of  conquest — self-conquest  ?  Fadette  was  pon- 
dering, until  she  forced  aside  the  current  of  her  thoughts. 

But  that  current  had  swerved  again  from  her  control 
while  she  tarried  alone  in  the  moonlight,  her  hands  lying 
listlessly  upon  the  rude  railing  around  the  gallery,  her  eyes 
dropped  with  unobservant  outlook  on  the  dismal  sweep  of 
mud  and  wood. 

She  was  still  standing  thus,  when  a  well-known  step 
resounded  behind. 

She  started.  Her  first  impulse  was  to  take  refuge  within- 
doors from  a  ttte-d-ttte  she  feared.  But  as  she  saw  Ruthven 
Erie  already  at  her  side,  she  felt  avoidance  now  would  be 
too  marked. 

"Upon    an     exploring,  expedition,     Mr.     Erie?"     she 


BANDOLPn  nOKOB.  237 

asked    liglitly,    determining    to    make    the    best    of   her 
position. 

"  Here  is  my  bourn,"  he  said.  "  I  was  in  search  of  you." 
And  he  leaned  beside  her  against  the  railing,  removing  his 
hat  and  carelessly  shaking  back  that  falling  wave  of  fair 
hair. 

"  In  search  of  me  ?  Thank  you.  I  should  have  known 
those  grand  arrangements  for  tea  could  not  dispense  with 
me,"  she  said,  hastily  attempting  to  pass  him. 

He  intercepted  her  with  a  lazy,  almost  nonchalant  move- 
ment. 

"  Not  at  all.  I  am  the  only  one  in  need  of  you  at  this 
present.  Cannot  you  stay  and  talk  to  me  for  the  space  of 
ten  minutes,  during  which  I  may  smoke  this  cigar— yes,  a 
cigar  which  has  run  the  blockade,  and  which  I  know  of 
old  your  goodness  to  encourage?" — lighting  one  as  he 
spoke,  and  interrupting  his  words  with  an  occasional  slow 
enjoyable  puff.  "  Or  you  shall  continue  your  absorbed 
contemplation  of  moon  and  mud,  provided  you  do  not 
abandon  me  to  it  in  solitude." 

"  No,  no,  rather  than  that  I  will  send  you  out  the  fair 
aboriginal  maiden,"  laughed  Fadette,  resuming  her  place, 
however,  reassured  by  his  manner. 

"  I  have  just  returned  from  an  interview  with  her  at  the 
stable,"  he  replied.  ".  She  had  taken*  possession  of  my  horse 
early  in  the  action,  had  ridden  him  down  there,  and  my 
whole  will  was  in  requisition  to  prevent  her  imsaddling 
and  feeding  him  with  her  own  fair  hands." 

Fadette  smiled. 

"  Pity  all  Dulcineas  are  not  thus  complaisant,"  she  said. 

"Unfortunately,  I  cannot  appropriate  the  compliment, 
all  was  done  in  so  matter-of  course  a  style.  But,"  and  he 
suddenly  shifted  his  position,  looking  down  into  her  face, 
"  you  say  true  ;  it  is  pity  all  Dulcineas  are  not  complaisant. 


2^38  BANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

Why  ai'e  they  not  ?  Why  do  they  lend  the  inimical  wind 
mill,  that  modern  form  of  Fortune's  wheel,  so  many  sighs 
and  breaths  and  gales  of  coldness  and  caprice  ?" 

Her  quick  glance  caught  the    slight    smile  curling  his 

lip- 

"Because,"  she  reijlied,  "degenerate  Quixotes  of  this  day 
ride  on  and  do  battle  with  the  windmills  in  their  own  names, 
or  in  those  of  half  a  dozen  Dulcineas." 

He  removed  his  cigar,  and  now,  still  resting  on  one  arm 
and  searching  her  face,  he  said  slowly : 

"  You  know  it  is  not  thus  with  me.  You  know — Xo,  go 
you  shall  not,"  gently  but  firmly  covering  her  hand  with  his 
upon  the  railing,  as  she  attempted  to  pass  him.  "  You 
shall  hear  me  out  now.  What  have  I  done  that  you  should 
torture  me  thus  ?"  he  ended,  in  a  strangely  altered  tone. 

She  dared  not  meet  his  eyes.  She  trembled  violently, 
and  was  silent.  He  went  on,  his  tones  softening  to  tender- 
ness : 

"  Do  you  know  that  the  touch  of  this  little  hand — which 
perhaps  I  hold  as  mine — mine — tlius — to-night  for  the  last 
time— has  thrilled  my  thoughts,  waking  or  dreaming,  the 
two  long  years  since  last  it  lay  in  mine  ?  Do  you  know 
that  an  accent,  a  glance  of  yours,  has  returned  again  and 
again,  instinct  with  hope  or  with  despair,  above  the  battle- 
thunder — through  the  midnight  hush — upon  the  weary 
march?  My  darling,  have  the  sweetest  been  delusive 
brightness  ?     Is  it  all  in  vain  ?" 

Doubt  had  fled.  She  stood  with  bowed  head,  and  mouth 
quivering  in  a  smile,  swayed  only  by  that  passion-deep  low 
A^oice.     He  loved  her,  then — and  she — 

But  when  that  A'oice,  which  banished  fi-om  her  heart  all 
echoes  of  the  past,  had  ceased,  returning  memory  smote 
her  with  a  keen  fierce  pang.  Of  what  had  she  been 
thinkino^?     Had  she  no  sense  of  honor  left?     Little  more 


BANDOLPn  HONOR  239 

than  two  years  ago,  beneath  such  a  moon  as  this,  had  she 
not  suffered  another  than  Rutliven  Erie — 

"  Let  me  go,  let  me  go  !"  she  cried  vehemently,  stung 
with  the  remembrance,  struggling  to  withdraw  her  hand. 

And  he  let  her  go — without  one  word — with  but  one 
glance  at  her  averted  face  crimsoned  with  shame. 

He  let  her  go.  She  had  almost  gained  the  threshold, 
where  was  safety.  Safety  from  herself — for  that  one  glance 
of  his  had  flashed  upon  her  in  outraged  pride,  and  she  knew 
that  he  relinquished  her  with  the  hand  he  coldly  dropped 
upon  the  instant.  In  her  inmost  soul  she  felt  that  all  was 
over — the  dream  had  faded  out  forcA^er.  And  she  ven- 
tured, stunned  into  a  calm  despair,  to  pause  one  instant  to 
look  back  upon  it. 

Aye,  she  felt  he  had  not  so  much  as  moved  to  watch  her. 
He  stood  there  Avith  his  back  toward  her,  his  arms  folded 
on  his  breast,  his  head  uplifted  haughtily. 

She  could  not  bear  his  anger,  and  know  that  she  had 
seemed  to  trifle  Avith  him.  Almost  before  thought  could 
frame  itself,  she  was  before  him. 

Tears  dropped  fast  and  faster  from  her  uplifted  eyes, 
unconscious  of  them.  Her  lip  quivered,  and  the  upraised 
clasped  hands  were  trembling.  So  much  of  childlike  hu- 
mility was  in  the  attitude,  so  much  of  childlike  trust  and 
pleading  in  the  face  on  which  the  moonlight  fell,  that  his 
cold  gaze  melted  slowly,  and  he  held  out  his  hand. 

But  hers  did  not  waver  to  the  yearning  clasp.  She  still 
upheld  them  pressed  against  her  bosom.  And  he  marked 
the  moonbeams  flash  and  glitter  on  that  ring. 

"  Mr.  Erie,"  she  said,  in  a  A^'oice  shaken  as  if  draAvn 
through  sobs,  which  hoAvever  came  not,  "  I — I  should  haA'e 
told  you  long  ago  that  I — " 

She  broke  down  completely,  coA-ering  her  face,  as  she 
slipped  the  ring  from  her  finger,  and  silently  extended  it. 


240  BANDOLPII  HOXOB, 

As  silently  he  bowed  over  it.  The  initials  were  only  too 
well  known,  and  he  read,  traced  rudely  within  the  golden 
circle :  "  Till  death  us  do  part." 

Cold  beads  stood  upon  his  brow,  and  the  rigid  lij^s  just 
faltered,  like  a  suppressed  moan — 

"My  God!" 

Then  firmly  and  unhesitatingly  he  replaced  the  ring, 
l^ressing  it  there  while  he  spoke  in  low  and  steady  tones : 

"Had  I  not  feared  this,  two  years  ago  I  would  hav^e 
spoken.  Yesterday  I  dreamed  the  fear  unfounded.  Forget 
what  I  have  said  to-night.  For  I — God  knows  I  hold  this 
bond  as  sacred  as  you  can !" 

He  pressed  the  tiny  hand  passionately  to  his  lips,  and 
left  her.  She  watched  through  rushing  tears  until  he 
gained  the  road,  and  there  jDaced  u^)  and  down  with  meas- 
ured pauseless  tread.  Fadette  wondered,  as  she  watched, 
how  he  could  be  so  strong,  so  calm.  His  head  was  thrown 
back,  his  brow  bared  to  the  wind,  as  if  he  even  drew  enjoy- 
ment from  the  night.  And  with  a  bitter  aching  at  her 
heart,  a  rebellious  cry  that  he  was  sufiering  less,  and  should 
not  see  she  grieved  at  all,  she  went  within-doors,  perhaps 
more  vivacious  in  her  gayety  than  ever. 


®*^^' 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


PRAIRIE-COMBE. 
'  Just  where  the  woodland  met  the  flowery  surf  of  the  prairie." 

EVANGELINB. 

OWN,  Leo,  down  !     So  !    Quiet,  sir !" 

Leo's  companion,  whom  he  had  deserted  to 
bound  back  at  the  sound  of  slow-treading  hoofs 
behind,  started  at  that  voice,  and  a  quick  flush  overspread 
her  face.  But  before  the  new-comer  had  ridden  up,  and 
now  flung  himself  from  his  horse,  walking  at  her  side,  she 
had  subdued  the  blush  to  an  almost  imperceptible  height- 
ening of  color. 

"On  your  way  back  to  camp,  Mr.  Erie?"  she  asked, 
quickly.  . 

"Yes.  We  march  at  dawn  to-morrow.  Yes" — as  a 
sudden  movement  betrayed  her  surprise — "you  did  not 
stay  up  yonder  in  the  library  long  enough  to  hear  that  fact 
confided  to  my  aunt  and  Miss  Matoaca." 

"  And  you  have  paused  here  to  say  good-bye,"  she  said, 
in  a  slow  forced  tone,  after  a  moment,  during  which  she 
had  stooped  to  gather  a  spray  of  the  crimson  phlox  which 
floated  on  the  waves  of  verdure  in  her  pathway,  and  which 
now,  as  with  averted  head  she  twined  it  carelessly  in  her 
dark  braids,  might  seem  to  have  stolen  from  her  cheek  its 
every  trace  of  wonted  bloom. 

"  No.     I  return  this  evening  for  a  few  hours." 

II 


242  RAXDOLPH  HOKOB. 

Xot  one  word  more  broke  upon  the  silence.  The  glossy 
chestnut  following  his  master's  steps  had  thrust  his  head 
between  the  two,  and  the  girl  had  laid  her  hand  upon  his 
flowing  mane.  Ruthven  Erie's  grasp  fell  slowly  from  the 
slackened  bridle,  and  now  rested  very  near  those  small 
white  fingers,  yet  not  touching  them.  For  that  ring  glit- 
tered there  in  the  evening  sunshine,  and  for  one  instant  he 
marked  it  shining  steadily.  Thus  they  walked  on,  she  with 
lowered  lashes,  but  he  with  gaze  fronting  steadfastly  the 
boundless  western  horizon,  and  gathering  strength  and 
firmness  moment  by  moment  as  he  bared  his  uplifted  brow 
to  the  freshening  breeze.  The  deep-set  dark-blue  eyes  were 
fronting  determinedly  the  near  parting  and  the  future's 
after  blankness,  and  the  calm  of  fixed  resolve  had  set  the 
mouth's  fine  curves. 

Months  had  gone  by  since  the  journey  through  the 
Arkansas  swamp,  and  during  their  frequent  intercourse  he 
had  never  once  given  her  word,  nor,  as  she  thought,  look, 
denoting  one  feeling  or  one  memory  lingering  of  that  time. 
Never  before  this  evening  had  he  sought  her  alone — never 
before,  thus  walked  with  her.  And  yet  faith  in  his  great 
love  had  grown  upon  her  more  and  more.  But  seldom 
intruded  those  former  doubts,  remembrance  of  Amy's 
faithless  wooer,  or  thought  of  Matoaca's — although  Matoaca 
indeed  he  had  sought  unreservedly.  Still,  Fadette  often 
felt  there  was  a  consciousness  of  her  own  presence  even 
when  he  neither  turned  nor  spoke — a  guardianship,  she 
sometimes  thought,  a  tender  sympathy,  and  a  strength  he 
willed  to  inspire  into  her  fainting  spirit,  by  which  she  bore 
up  bravely,  with  never  a  sign  of  faltering. 

3Ionths  had  gone  by,  over  a  journey  to  Little  Rock,  a 
sojourn  there,  and  a  long  and  weary,  perilous  and  exciting 
march  in  the  wake  of  the  Missouri  cavalrv,  to  that  o-allant 
band's    own    State.     Here    at    last    the   wanderers    from 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  243 

*'  Beauregard"  had  found  rest,  guided  by  young  Thorne  to 
a  familiar  neighborhood,  south  of  the  Missouri,  in  a  locality 
heretofore  undisturbed.  Mrs.  Rutledge  was  comfortably 
installed  in  a  retired  country  mansion,  whence  she  could 
visit  the  yet  somewhat  distant  St.  Louis  prison,  with  more 
security  than  if  she  had  resided  in  the  city. 

And  to-morrow  was  to  sever  the  last  link  to  the  loved 
Confederacy — to  leave  them  strangers  in  a  strange  land. 
For  to-morrow  the  dashing  "  Light  Horse"  was  to  take  up 
the  line  of  march  again  for  the  armies  of  the  South. 
Fadette  went  on  downcast  and  flushed,  and  took  no  note 
of  the  evening  and  the  scene  around.  But  before  Ruthven 
Erie,  to  whose  resolute  struggle  had  for  the  time  followed 
a  great  calm,  they  spread  with  soothing  influence.  The 
prairie-grass,  through  which  he  waded  on  knee-deep, 
stretched  out  illimitable  as  a  shoreless  ocean  from  the 
mountain-spur  behind,  round  which  the  two  had  just  passed 
on.  It  surged  and  rippled  with  a  tidal  swell  and  murmur, 
in  the  onward  sweep  of  the  west  wind.  Each  gust  rufiled 
those  green  billowy  undulations,  tossing  out  for  a  moment 
lono:  broken  lines  of  ffold  and  scarlet  flowers,  like  the  level 
sunset  rays  which  now  were  blending  with  them.  And  as 
overhead  rolled  on  the  white,  the  dusky,  and  the  golden- 
flaming  evening  clouds,  their  shadows  pictured  on  the  prairie 
the  white-crested  sun-flashing  rolling  ridges,  the  darksome, 
deep,  engulfing  hollows,  of  tempestuous  seas.  Li  the  sink- 
ing fall  and  lull,  from  time  to  time,  the  hum  of  gaudy 
insects  innumerable  passed  from  bloomy  tuft  to  tuft.  Then 
came  the  chirrup  of  bright-hued  birds  westward  winging 
their  way  to  the  mountains  or  to  the  tiny  groves,  which 
seemed  to  float,  far-sprinkled  wooded  islets,  on  the  heaving 
breast  of  ocean.  Above  for  a  moment  the  prairie-hawk 
flapped  his  broad  pinions,  and  swooped  a  shadow  over.  A 
deer  grazing  in  the  distance  reared  his  graceful  head,  in- 


244  RAyDOLPII  IIOXOR 

qairingly  above  the  waving  sedges,  and  then  bounded 
fleetly  back  to  his  leafy  covert  on  the  hillside.  And  silence 
brooded  deeper.  Gorgeous  masses,  brilliant  canopies,  and 
purple  piles  of  sunset  wafted  slowly  by,  or  melted  away  as 
a  di-eam.  The  skies  were  cooling  to  neutral  tints  merging 
on  the  clear  gray-blue,  where  the  white  moon,  so  long 
hanging  tlicre  unshapen,  began  to  lighten  forth  her  bow. 
Fadette  raised  her  head. 

"  I  must  go  now.     Leo  will  guard — "  she  began. 

But  the  sentence  remained  unfinished.  That  sudden 
lifting  of  the  lashes  had  surprised  Ruthven  Erie's  gaze, 
which  for  many  moments  had  been  dwelling  on  her  face. 
It  lingered  yet  an  instant,  and  then  he  turned  back  with 
her,  superseding  Leo,  he  said,  as  far  as  the  prairie's  edge, 
in  order  to  say  one  last  Avord,  since  he  might  not  see  her 
alone  again. 

He  left  the  chestnut  to  her  sole  guidance  now,  folding  his 
arms  across  his  breast  while  he  spoke. 

That  last  word  was  all  of  advice  and  warning.  He  told 
her  how  the  responsibility,  of  thought  for  the  welfare  of  the 
family  must  now  devolve  on  her,  since  "  our  aunt's"  life 
was  bounded  in  the  distant  prison,  and  she  had  neither 
time  nor  strength  for  aught  beyond,  while  Matoaca 
Vaughan  would  naturally  hesitate  to  assume  authority. 
He  explained  minutely  the  business  arrangements  which  he 
had  made  secretly  through  Harry  Thome's  uncle  and  county 
friends,  and  the  management  of  the  steady  income  to  be 
drawn  from  the  neighboring  bank.  Finally,  he  dwelt 
seriously  upon  the  perils  here  surrounding  "  rebels,"  and 
the  extreme  caution  in  word  and  deed  which  was  requisite 
for  their  security. 

"  Have  I  alarmed  you  ?"  he  said,  meeting  her  wistful 
eyes  with  a  smile.  "  Yet  I  know  the  will-o'-the-wisp,  who 
has  flitted  hither  and  thither  at  her  own  wild  will  all  her 


BANDOLPU  HONOB.  245 

bright  young  life,  can  and  will  at  need  steady  her  wayward 
light  into  a  beacon.  Now,  little  friend,  I  must  have  your 
promise  not  to  forget,  in  your  new  care  for  others,  that  you 
are  very  dear  to  many,  and  that  I  must  answer  it  to  your 
two  guardians  that  the  j^recious  trust  which  has  devolved 
on  me  be  rendered  safely  back.  Will  you  take  these  duties 
as  a  pledge  of  confidence  from  me  ?  And  remember,  when 
our  path  is  toilsome,  sharp,  and  cruel,  and  every  onward 
step  is  marked  with  blood  drawn  from  our  very  fainting 
hearts — yet  when  our  strength  is  sinking,  He  will  then  up- 
hold. And  to  struggle  on  unswervingly,  surely  that  shall 
bring  a  man  peace  at  the  last." 

He  bent  his  head  reverently  at  these  words.  Fadette's 
tears  were  streaming  fast,  for  she  felt  that  they  were  spoken 
at  the  end  for  his  own  struggling  spirit.  She  dashed  the 
drops  away,  and  turned  to  look  at  him.  How  her  heart 
throbbed  as^ainst  the  coldness  she  dared  not  foresjo !  For 
she  recognized  him  so  above  her  girlish  ideal  hero,  in  his 
strength,  his  unwavering  rectitude  of  purpose,  the  tender- 
ness mingling  with  that  stern,  self-sacrificing  firmness, 
which  dared  unshrinkingly  the  martyrdom  of  hopes  that 
she  felt  in  her  inmost  soul  were  the  very  life  of  his  happi- 
ness. But  Lionel  seemed  to  stand  between  as  she  looked — 
seemed  to  stand,  with  his  flashing  black  eyes,  his  regular 
features,  the  brilliant  dark  coloring  of  his  face,  his  graceful 
lithe  figure — beside  this  man,  whose  dark  sombrero  sliaded 
features  too  strongly  marked  for  beauty,  and  whose  athletic 
frame  in  tlie  battle-worn  gray  spoke  fess  of  grace  than 
power.     Was  this  a  man  to  yield  to  Lionel  ? 

But  she  hushed  the  clamoring   thought,  for   he  would 
have  it  so.     And  she  said  only — 
•  "  I  will  remember  !" 

They  were  nearing  the  edge  of  tlie  prairie.  Crags  and 
wooded     precipices    of    the    mountain    spur    towered    up 


246  RANDOLPH  IIOXOR 

abruptly  on  the  riirlit,  st)*etchiii<j^«  away  to  the  southeast. 
And  ill  front,  along  the  jtrairie,  undulated  fields  and  orchard 
closes,  for  i)erlia]>s  half  a  mile,  when  the  range  made  a  bend 
around,  encircling,  and  stretching  thence  northward  along 
the  prairie.  It  was  an  isolated  spot.  Despite  the  danger 
of  intercourse  with  rebels,  Kuthven  Erie  felt  at  liberty  to 
loiter  here  beside  Fadette.  For  the  grassy  road  at  the  foot 
of  the  crags  led  only  to  that  white  villadike  cottage  nest- 
ling fronting  the  prairie's  A'erge,  where  those  huge  old 
blossoming  locilsts  and  lindens  threw  light  shadows  on  the 
lawn's  green  level  and  flowery  shrubbery.  Full  barns  and 
windmill  to  the  left,  and  pink  and  white  orchard  to  the 
rear,  with  cultivated  fields  that  sloped  richly  upward  to  the 
mountains  closing  in  behind,  betokened  peace  and  plenty. 

"I  think  I  am  leaving  you  in  a  haven  of  quiet,"  Kuth- 
ven Erie  said,  as  he  j^aused,  to  make  Leo  guardian  for  the 
last  quarter  of  a  mile.  He  could  discern  through  the  vines 
that  clambered  there,  two  dark  figures  pacing  to  and  fro 
upon  the  piazza,  and  the  white  dresses  of  little  Janet  and 
Lily  flitting  at  play  in  and  out  among  the  roses  on  the 
lawn,  while  the  old  Mammy,  the  only  one  of  the  servants 
who  had  accom^Danied  the  Beauregard  wanderers,  watched 
over  them. 

But  as  he  paused,  the  taller  of  the  two  figures  upon  the 
piazza  had  disappeared. 

Presently  a  man  emerged  from  the  trees,  advancing  rai>- 
idly.  Ruthven  Erie  bent  an  earnest  scrutinizing  gaze 
upon  him.  For  the  appearance  of  one  who  did  not  wear 
the  gray  was  no  good  omen.  But  he  stood  his  gTound,  for 
were  it  friend  or  foe,  he  was  already  seen.  Fadette  was 
stroking  in  leave-taking  the  beautiful  war-horse,  rubbing 
his  head  against  her  shoulder,  and  she  saw  nothing,  until 
a  near  step  caused  her  to  look  behind  her  toward  the 
house. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  241 

Ruthven  Eric,  as  the  new-comer  approached,  had  started, 
and  withdraAvn  somewhat,  his  hat  pressed  down  over  his 
brows.  But  Fadette  did  not  observe,  only  with  a  glad  cry 
of  astonishment  sprang  forward. 

"  My  guardian  !    My  dear  guardian  !" 

Ruthven  Erie,  watching,  saw  that  every  trace  of  melan- 
choly was  fled.  The  eyes  were  bright  with  joy  which  they 
alone  could  utter,  the  sweet  lips  were  wreathed  in  smiles, 
and  the  flush  of  pleasure  rose  in  her  cheek.  Both  the  little 
clinging  hands  were  in  his,  and  her  smile  was  softest  when 
for  one  instant  his  arm  drew  her  close. 

But  when  the  eyes  which  searched  the  guardian's  face, 
as  fearing  change,  brimmed  over  with  sudden  tears,  noting 
the  ravages  confinement,  want,  and  anxiety  had  made,  and 
the  gray  lines  threading  here  and  there  the  dark  hair — 
when  with  a  quick  impulse  of  loving  sympathy  the  girl 
bowed  her  warm  cheek  upon  the  wasted  hand — then  Ruth- 
ven Erie  turned  aside  with  a  muttered  self-scornful  "  Fool !" 
And  the  crimson  flower  which  a  while  ago  she  had  dropped, 
and  he  unseen  had  lifted  from  the  grass,  now  fell,  crushed, 
from  his  hold,  and  he  set  his  heel  upon  it. 

After  a  moment,  Mr.  Randolph  looked  toward  Fadette's 
companion.  Fadette,  it  was  evident,  had  completely  for- 
gotten his  presence. 

"Pardon  me.  Sir,  for  thus  interrupting  your  walk,"  he 
began. 

But  Mr.  Erie  advanced,  extending  his  hand. 

"Perhaps,"  he  said,  removing  his  hat,  "Mr.  Randolph 
may  still  remember  Ruthven  Erie,  as  Ruthven  Erie  may 
never  forget  Mr.  Randolph's  more  than  generosity." 

Fadette  stared  in  amazement  while  the  two  gentlemen 
met,  cordially  as  old  friends.  But  she  had  hardly  time  for 
wonder,  before  Mr.  Erie  addressed  himself  to  her  : 

" '  God  forgive  you — I  cannot.     You  have  taken  away 


248  RANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

the  escape  I  planned  for  him,' "  he  said,  quoting  her  own 
words,  very  low,  but  with  a  quiet  composure  which  might 
seem  to  brave  them  to  the  full. 

She  stood  speechless,  less  astonished  at  the  revelation 
than  at  her  own  blindness.  A  thousand  memories  rushed 
upon  her.  But  not  one  of  that  anger  she  had  more  than 
once  expressed,  and  of  that  bitter  prejudice  she  had 
thought  never  to  be  forgotten.  She  remembered  hoAV 
often  her  light  words  must  have  seemed  like  taunts,  and 
with  what  indulgence  he  had  borne  them.  She  heard,  as 
though  not  hearing,  the  conversation  of  the  gentlemen,  and 
it  scarcely  caught  her  attention,  when  her  guardian  said, 
at  last,  that  he  would  gladly  join  the  southward  march 
upon  the  morrow,  though,  the  Confederacy  reached,  he 
purposed  crossing  the  Mississippi  and  thence  to  Virginia, 
to  enter  his  brother's  regiment. 

Then  Mr.  Erie,  with  the  promise  of  a  return  in  a  few 
hours,  took  his  leave. 

He  was  passing  Fadette  with  a  bow.  But  she  put  out 
her  hand  hurriedly. 

"  Good-bye,  Mr]  Erie." 

It  was  all  the  lips  uttered.  But  the  eyes,  lifted  beseech- 
ingly to  his,  spoke  more.  In  truth,  the  kind  stranger  of  the 
St.  Nicholas  was  more  present  to  her  mind,  than  one  who 
had  intervened  between  her  guardian  and  freedom. 

He  waited  until  she,  her  hands  clasped  over  her  guar- 
dian's arm,  was  moving  toward  the  cottage.  Then  he 
stooped,  and  raised  that  mangled  flower  from  the  trampled 
sod,  flung  himself  upon  his  horse,  and  in  an  instant  more 
was  galloping  at  wild  speed  across  the  prairie. 

They  did  not  enter  the  low  gate,  but  paced  up  and  down 
without,  where  the  boughs  of  the  tall  seringas  and  the 
roses  trailed  beyond  the  wire-fence  in  an  archway,  above  a 
narrow  path,  scarcely  worn  in  the  grass.     Fadette  walked 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  2  t9 

on  in  an  indistinct  dream,  and  was  hardly  conscious  of  a 
thought.  But  at  every  turn  her  ghmce  still  followed  the 
waving  of  Kuthven  Erie's  dark  plume,  until  it  suddenly 
struck  off  to  that  gap  in  the  mountain-range.  Her  com- 
panion had  been  drinking  in  the  beauty,  the  deep  peace 
and  comfort  of  the  scene.  And  he  now  spoke  almost  as 
Ruthven  Erie  had  spoken. 

"  Well,  my  little  girl,  I  leave  you  in  a  haven  of  tran- 
quillity." 

She  started,  recalled  by  the  sound  of  his  voice. 

"But,  my  dear  guardian,  you  are  not  really  going? 
And  so  soon  ?  Are  you  quite  sure  you  are  strong  enough  ?" 
she  said,  wistfully  regarding  him,  and  struck  pale  by  the 
view  of  his  wan  and  haggard  countenance. 

"  Quite  sure.  I  am  not  ill  at  all,  only  somewhat  worn 
with  captivity,''  he  replied  lightly  to  her  anxious  glance. 
"  I  must  go  with  your  Missouri  friends,  because  the  under- 
ground railway,  in  my  experience,  is  no  very  practicable 
route.  Years  ago,"  he  resumed  after  a  pause,  "  beside  the 
branching  hedge,  w^here  the  bay  beneath  rolled  shoreward, 
like  this  prairie,  and  the  lull  of  evening  was  on  all — the 
last  time  your  arm  rested  thus  in  mine,  Fadette — you 
had  eager  messages  for  Lionel.  And  what  shall  they  be 
now  r'"^ 

Hot  blushes  surged  so  fast  that  they  took  away  the  power 
of  utterance.  She  looked  up  hurriedly.  He  Avas  smiling 
down  upon  her.  But  in  her  agitation  she  could  not  mark 
the  profound  melancholy  of  that  smile,  and  it  only  seemed 
to  mock  the  anguish  he  could  not,  and  must  not,  under- 
stand. She  burst  into  a  passion  of  tears,  and  hid  her  foce 
afirainst  her  irnardian's  shoulder,  as  in  the  troubles  of  her 
childhood  she  had  been  wont  to  do. 

But  no  strong  arm  drew  her  protectingly  closer  now ;  no 
deep  voice  soothed  her,  while  she  cried  with  bitter  sobs — 


250  RANDOLPn  HOXOR. 

"  Oh,  if  I  might  but  see  Lionel — but  see  him  once  again ! 
It  is  so  long,  so  long  to  wait  I"  . 

It  was  the  conviction  of  the  moment,  that  since  she  could 
thus  have  changed,  Lionel  might  hardly  be  the  same — tliat 
in  some  way,  some  ha^ipy  way,  Lionel  himself  would  break 
those  shackles  so  entering  into  her  soul,  and  set  her  free, 
and  set  himself  free  gladly  too.  But  it  was  so  long,  so  long 
to  wait,  she  moaned  again. 

In  more  than  the  weakness  of  his  long  imprisonment, 
Mr.  Randolph's  right  hand  grasped  the  fence  against  which 
he  stood.  A  hea^-y  cloud  gloomed  on  his  brow ;  but  it  was 
forced  away  before  Fadette  regained  her  calmness  with  a 
struggle.  And  with  deep,  tiiie  tenderness,  he  dwelt  upon 
the  younger  brother — with  that  unshaken  Randolph  honor, 
stablished  on  the  rock  of  a  heart  unmoved  by  all  the 
shocks  of  that  fortune  wliich  had  swept  away  the  outward 
tyj^e  —  the  old  ancestral  Randolph  Honor.  Fadette's 
lieart  seemed  to  flint  and  die,  and  lie  all  heavy  and  cold 
beneath  her  hand ;  and  her  downcast  face  grew  paler  in  the 
twilight,  when  the  guardian,  to  whom  she  still  as  of  old 
looked  up  as  to  unwavering  though  indulgent  rectitude, 
spoke  of  Lionel's  fate  in  her  keeping,  and  of  the  earnest  faith 
she  owed  him — faith  easier  in  the  rendering,  he  continued, 
because  from  childhood  she  had  known  him  well,  and — 

"  Loved  him  I"  Fadette  almost  gasped,  in  an  accent 
that  did  not  sound  bitter,  only  because  it  was  so  hardly 
audible. 

She  walked  on,  benumbed  with  the  aching  sense  of  those 
chains  she  knew  now  that  she  could  never  dare  to  cast 
aside. 

That  night,  when  Ruthven  Erie  had  bad^  farewell  to  his 
aunt  and  to  Matoaca  in  the  cottage  library,  Fadette  parted 
from  him  there  with  a  light  touch  of  the  hand,  and  turned 
away  to  cling  to  Mr.  Randolph  and  sob  her  grief  out  on 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  251 

his  shoiikler.  While  Kuthvcn  passed  out  abruptly  to  the 
lawn,  leaning  in  silence  on  his  horse's  neck,  his  hand  clenched 
on  the  spot  where  hers  had  so  lately  rested. 

Weeks  after,  on  a  far  Virginia  camping-ground,  the 
elder  brother  calmly  recounted  to  the  younger  the  story  of 
Fadette's  tears.  And  Lionel  passionately  echoed  Fadette's 
words  :  "  It  is  so  long,  so  long  to  wait !" 


CHAPTER   XIX. 


THE    CAYE. 


"  Ch'io  se  nel  cor  vi  cerco,  altri  nol  vede, 
E  sol  mi  vanto  di  nascosa  fiamma, 
E  sol  mi  glorio  di  secreta  fede."' 

Tasso. 

^HOA,  Dobbin,  whoa !" 

The  voice  rang  out  clear  and  silvery  through 
the  forest  solitudes,  and  the  slow  tramp  of  old 
Dobbin  stayed,  and  the  grating  sound  of  the  rude  wood- 
sledge,  over  the  stones  and  through  the  fallen  leaves,  ceased. 

The  evening  sunbeams  slanted  across  the  prairie,  bound- 
less to  west  and  north,  to  the  heights  closing  in  here  the 
southeastern  horizon,  and  towering  up,  wooded  range  on 
range.  The  prairie,  with  this  fringe  of  wood  and  moun- 
tain, waved  golden-billowed  in  the  sunshine,  and  number- 
less grazing  herds  blurred  its  bright  surface.  The  cool 
calm  of  a  September  evening  was  in  tlie  air,  and  brooded 
yet  deeper  here  beneath  the  Avoodland  shades. 

There  stood  old  Dobbin,  nothing  loth  to  stand,  while 
the  speaker  laid  one  gauntleted  hand  upon  his  leanest  of 
lean  necks,  which  not  all  the  grass  in  those  rich  prairies 
could  fatten  into  the  semblance  of  youth.  A  strange 
driver  for  the  raw-boned  animal,  that  young  girl  who  now 
paused,  flushed  with  the  ascent  of  the  steep  mountain-path, 
and  drawing  ofl"  one  glove,  pushed  back  with  a  tiny  dimpled 
hand  the  dark  hair  from  her  temples.  The  broad  straw-hat 
hung  by  its  ribbons  loosely  round  her  throat,  and,  coarse 


RANDOLPH  IIONOB.  253 

thouc-h  its  home-maae  plaits,  looked  pieturesque  and  co- 
q uetrish,  adorned  with  that  wreath  of  brdUant  prau-,e- 
W<1^LL  Her  dress,  of  the  plainest  of  dark-blue  pnnts, 
fitted  exquisitely  the  gracefnlly  rounded  figure,  and  was 
looped  from  contact  with  damp  leaves  and  mosses  over  the 
whitest  of  white  skirts,  revealing  a  dainty  foot. 

«Hei<vhol"  she  sighed,  fanning  herself  with  a  branch  of 
hazel  broken  from  the  copse;  "I  wish  my  unknown  wood- 
chopper  would  but  make  his  appearance,  and  re  leve  me 
of  the  lading  of  the  sledge.  However,  I  ought  not  to 
grumble,  for  I  have  had  harder  work  in  the  last  six  months 
than  this.  To  thuik  of  having  all  our  summer  fuel  thus  cut 
and  stacked  by  invisible  hands  !"  ,  ,,     „ 

She  pushed  aside  the  branches  as  she  spoke  and  tliero 
as  she  had  said,  was  a  stack  of  fuel,  eut  so  that  without 
great  labor  she  had  soon  laid  it  stick  by  stick  upon  the 
sled..e      Then  she  stooped,  parting  a  knot   of  clustering 
bushes  obscuring  the  opening  of  a  hollow  tree  which  over- 
hung the  cliff.  .  „ 
«  Ah'  here  is  our  weekly  hamper  again,  full  as  eve. 
She  knelt  down  upon  the  sward,  and  drew  it  forth  from 
the  place  of  concealment,  holding  up  to  view,  each  time 
with  fresh  delight,  the  sacks  of  flour,  coffee,  sugar,  and  the 
ham,  on  which^for  several  months,  in  her  station  as  house- 
keeper she  had  been  accustomed  to  look  as  the  bulk  of  her 
weeklv  larder.     One  by  one,  she   hid  them  beneath   the 
wood,"and  was  replacing  the  hamper,  when  a  ring  ot  some- 
tlung  within  caught   her   attention.     A   well-filled   purse 
dropped  from  her  astonished  hold. 

A  hundred  dollars  in  shining  gold  pieces !  It  was  long, 
lone,  since  the  eager  girl  had  touched,  had  counted  so 
much  Yet  when  it  was  all  counted  piece  by  piece  m  her 
lap,  she  bent  over  it  a  face  in  which  dismay  predominated 
above  amazement. 


254  BAXDOLPn  HOXOR 

Her  thoughts  flew  back,  as  she  pondered,  over  the  more 
than  year  of  her  trust  which  Ruthven  Erie  had  given.  She 
had  not  in  that  space  once  seen  him,  to  render  an  account. 
Faithfully  and  constantly  had  she  striven,  however,  to  fulfil 
it.  For  the  first  months  it  was  an  easy  task.  The  regular 
income,  well-managed,  had  afforded  sufficient  support,  and 
ample  means  for  the  comfort  of  the  prisoner,  who  was  the 
first  thought  of  every  member  of  the  household.  But  last 
spring  the  isolation  of  the  prairie-home  was  broken  by 
guerrillas  banding  in  the  mountains,  and  one  of  the  num- 
ber, wounded  to  the  death,  had  staggered  to  Mrs.  Rut- 
ledge's  door,  and  been  tended  by  her  that  night  until  he 
breathed  his  last.  Since  then,  pillage  had  followed  fast  on 
pillage,  until  the  rebel  sympathizers  were  laid  waste  in 
field  and  byre.  And  bank-stock  vanished,  only  a  slender 
sum  might  be  relied  on,  in  trust  with  an  uncle  of  Harry 
Thome's.  But  the  sum  was  little  more  than  that  from  the 
beginning  devoted  to  Mr.  Rutledge.  So  Matoaca  and  Fa- 
dette,  with  the  faithful  old  Mammy,  now  sole  servant,  had  in 
concert  determined  to  draw  upon  this  as  little  as  possible, 
had  cultivated  with  their  own  hands  a  garden-patch,  and 
economized  in  every  possible  way.  Gladly  would  the  two 
girls,  by  any  exertion,  have  added  to  their  income,  but  this 
was  impossible  in  their  lonely  situation,  and  they  were 
determined  to  weather  through  the  summer,  at  least,  to- 
gether. Of  all  this,  Mrs.  Rutledge  knew  little.  Fadette 
had  striven,  since  she  had  assumed  the  household  manage- 
ment, to  relieve  her  aunt's  mind  from  the  pressure  of  cares 
other  than  those  which  must  of  necessity  weigh  upon  her — 
constant  thought  for  the  prisoner,  and  constant  exertions 
for  his  release.  He  was  yet  in  close  confinement,  under 
the  unsubstantial  charge  of  crossing  arms  to  the  Trans- 
Mississippi. 


'  RANDOLPH  HONOR.  255 

Yet,  reviewing  this  trial-time,  Fadette  acknowledged  that 
not  all  exertion,  all  economy,  would  have  saved  from  utter 
want,  had  it  not  been  for  a  mysterious  aid. 

Vividly  back  upon  her  memory  came  that  bright  June 
evening  when  she  had  strayed  with  Leo  hither  to  her 
wonted  haunt,  and  had  found  a  fairy  missive,  addressed  to 
herself,  at  the  root  of  this  old  tree,  directing  her  to  the  dark 
hollow  for  treasure-trove.  After  a  dinnerless  day,  and 
with  nothing  to  look  forward  to  before  the  scanty  break- 
fast of  the  morrow,  it  w\as  hardly  surprising  that  she  did 
not  thrust  aside  the  well-filled  hamper,  but  that  she  not 
only  made  Leo  assist  her  in  carrying  it  home,  but  strictly 
obeyed  the  reiterated  injunction  of  absolute  secrecy.  Kor 
was  it  strange  that  she  should  come  again  and  again,  at 
the  close  of  every  week,  as  a  second  billet  entreated,  urging 
that  the  writer  was  thus  paying  a  debt  w^hich  weighed  upon 
his  conscience,  and  which  it  w^as  impossible  otherwise  to 
cancel.  Nearly  three  months  had  thus  gone  by.  Provi- 
sions and  fuel  were  stored  for  her  with  unfailing  regularity, 
while  she  neither  sought,  nor  desired  to  find,  the  clue  to 
the  hidden  donor.  In  her  own  mind,  she  was  assured  of 
his  identity  with  a  false  friend,  who,  to  shield  himself  and 
his  own  property,  had  made  a  scape-goat  of  her  aunt's. 
She  did  not  draw  any  logical  conclusions  upon  the  subject. 
But  she  felt  that  a  remnant  of  conscience  would  prompt 
some  rendition,  while  her  indignation,  both  for  the  wrong 
and  for  the  wrongful  righting,  made  her  loth  to  piit  her- 
self in  a  position  to  acknowledge  the  latter. 

Meantime,  there  lay  the  gold,  which  not  for  an  instant 
could  she  think  of  thus  receiving.  Her  first  impulse  was 
to  return  it  to  the  hamper,  which  she  knew  would  be  sought 
for  and  replenished  before  another  week.  But  should  the 
hitherto  unmolested  covert  be  disturbed  by  any  means,  and 


256  RAXDOLPn  HOyOR 

the  purse  lost,  liow  could  slie  ever  repay  ?  She  would  con- 
sult Matoaca,  at  least,  and  must  take  the  contemned  lucre 
home  for  safety. 

She  had  put  up  the  coins,  still  kneeling  there  with 
thoughtfully  bowed  head  and  a  line  of  care  contracting 
her  brows. 

"  If  I  have  done  wrong  in  all  these  months,"  she  said 
aloud,  slowly  pondering,  "  as  I  begin  to  fear  I  have — 
Well,  well,  too  late  to  think  of  that.  Why,  Leo,  you 
troubled  too  ?  And  what  do  you  think  of  this  ?  Come, 
sir,  your  advice,  if  you  please !" 

She  held  the  purse  suspended  over  the  dog's  nose,  which 
he,  the  while  lying  at  her  feet,  had  rested  reposefully  upon 
his  forepaws.  But  when  she  began  to  speak,  he  had  lifted 
his  head,  and  his  ears  erected  themselves  as  at  some  sound 
which  she  had  not  observed.  His  quick,  intelligent  eyes 
were  fixed  intently  upon  the  overhanging  thicket,  and  -with 
one  snuff  at  the  dangling  purse,  in  utter  disregard  of,  and 
almost  oversetting,  his  mistress,  he  suddenly  leaped  from 
her  side,  and  off,  up  the  crag,  with  short  sharp  barks  of 
delight,  in  tlie  direction  of  a  rustling  through  the  bushes. 

"  Here,  Leo,  Leo,  where  are  you  going  ?"  Fadette  cried, 
alarmed  at  the  defection  of  her  powerful  protector. 

But  he  only  responded  to  her  call  by  returning  to  her 
side  for  one  moment,  and  then  bounding  away  again  as 
before.  She  stood  an  instant  irresolute.  Then,  her  curiosity 
excited  by  the  dog's  strange  behavior,  she  followed. 

Pushing  through  the  dense  undergrowth,  she  went  on 
and  on,  seeing  nothing  save  the  rustling  of  the  boughs  which 
the  dog  in  his  rapid  movements  displaced,  hearing  nothing 
save  his  eager  panting  and  her  own  hurried  breatliino;. 

Xow  the  animal  left  the  more  open  crag  on  which  she 
had  stood,  overlooking  the  prairie,  and  penetrated  deeper 
and  deeper  into  the  recesses  of  the  mountain.     How  far 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  257 

they  had  gone  Fadette  knew  not.  But  fear  began  to  get 
the  better  of  curiosity,  and  she  stood  still,  calling  once 
more  upon  Leo,  Leo,  of  whom  she  had  lost  sight. 

A  crashing  of  the  branches  followed  on  her  call,  and  Leo 
reappeared.  But  he  only  stayed  to  rub  his  head  against 
her  extended  hand.  He  was  oif  again  as  before,  with  so 
piteous  a  whine,  that  she  could  not  but  follow,  even  when 
presently  he  couched  down  among  a  clump  of  bushes,  and 
whined  there  till  she  approached.  Then  she  saw  him 
twist  and  turn  himself  through  what  appeared  to  be  a 
narrow  aperture  between  two  rocks.  She  hesitated  ;  but, 
more  interested  than  ever,  and  confiding  in  the  intelligence 
of  her  conductor,  she  followed  with  difficulty,  crouching 
through  the  aperture,  near  enough  always  to  touch  with 
outstretched  hand  the  shaggy  coat  of  her  conductor,  who 
thus  preceded  her  into  danger,  if  danger  there  was.  But, 
truth  to  tell,  her  fears  had  scarcely  a  form,  and  excitement 
predominated  over  them.  When  on  a  sudden  her  eyes, 
accustomed  to  the  darkness  of  the  passage,  were  dazzled 
by  a  glare  of  light. 

When  in  her  fright  she  could  observe,  she  sav»^  that  that 
light  was  flaring  from  a  blazing  pine-torch  held  aloft  by  a 
figure  in  the  far  end  of  the  cave — for  cave  it  was  into  which 
she  had  thus  entered.  "  Leo,  Leo,"  she  called,  in  tones 
suffocated  with  terror.  But  Leo  had  deserted  her,  was 
leaping  on  the  stranger  in  an  ecstasy  of  frantic  joy.  And 
the  stranger — yes,  he  actually  was  coming  toward  her. 
Blind  with  fear,  she  turned  and  groped  for  the  passage  by 
which  she  had  come.  But  she  sank  dowm,  daring  not  to 
venture  into  its  narrow  intricacies,  and  so  turn  her  back 
upon  the  unknown.  Cowering  there,  her  head  buried  on 
her  knees,  she  awaited  with  every  misgiving  that  approach. 

It  was  of  no  ordinary  mortal  presence  that,  she  thought. 
That  strange   misshapen   figure  suggested    to   her   rather 


258  BAXDOLPH  IIOXOR 

wild  alarms  of  dwarf  and  brownie,  and  the  mildest  that 
occurred  to  her  memory  was  Elshie  of  Mucklestane  3Ioor. 
Till  now  she  almost  felt  the  light  of  the  torch  flaring  upon 
her  bowed  head,  and  the  footsteps  stayed  before  her.  Just 
then  something  cold  touched  her  hand.  With  a  wild 
shriek  she  started  up.  Only  Leo — who  now  laid  his  head 
on  her  knee,  yet  one  instant  looking  up  with  a  joyful  whine 
to  the  figure  before  her.    She  too  summoned  courage  to  look. 

Truly  no  dwarf,  no  brownie,  no  canny  Elshie — but  a 
poor  harmless  idiot  hunchback,  whom  Fadette  had 
met  some  two  or  three  times  in  her  rambles,  and  with 
whom  Leo  had  from  the  first  struck  up  an  afiectionate 
acquaintance. 

Fadette  rose,  smiling  at  her  fears.  And  yet  she  could 
not  repress  a.  quick  shiver  of  something  between  dread  and 
repugnance  when  she  stood  facing  this  strange  being  in  the 
torch-lit  darkness  and  solitude  of  the  cavern.  The  red 
flame  flickered  u]X)n  rugged  walls  of  rock,  and  roof  that 
stooped  low  and  irregularly  above  her,  sometimes  shelving 
to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  ground,  sometimes  vaulted  to 
a  considerable  height.  The  cave's  breadth  was  slioht, 
but  it  would  seem  that  in  length  it  extended  further  into 
the  mountain,  since  the  torch  failed  to  strike  a  ray  against 
any  wall  in  that  direction.  This  might  have  been  once  the 
subterranean  bed  of  a  mountain  stream,  which  through  the 
entrance -aperture  had  forced  its  way,  and  which  some 
freak  of  Nature  had  now  shut  out  from  all  return,  veiling 
the  passage  with  her  densest  of  green  screens.  Yet,  chil- 
lingly dismal  as  was  this  cave,  there  were  signs  of  habita- 
tion. Li  one  corner  a  pair  of  coarse  blankets  were  folded 
one  upon  the  other ;  on  a  rocky  table  were  the  remains  of 
a  repast ;  and  against  the  wall  there  leaned  a  fowling-piece. 

In  an  instant  Fadette  had  marked  all  this,  and  with 
awakened  curiosity  she  scrutinized  the   probable   hermit. 


RAXDOLPH  HONOR.  259 

He  was  a  man  upon  whose  age  it  was  difficult  to  speculate, 
but  whom  most  would  have  pronounced  as  past  youth,  so 
haggard  was  the  countenance  but  partially  seen  beneath 
the  shadowy  slouched  hat,  and  which  the  long  black  un- 
kempt hair  and  beard  rendered  still  more  weird  and  salvage. 
The  hand  which  upheld  the  torch  was  certainly  well-shapen, 
but  observation  seldom  went  beyond  the  uncouth  grotesquc- 
ness  of  the  figure.  Fadette's  could  not  now.  Her  eyes 
dropped ;  though,  reassured  by  a  gentle  gleam  of  his  dark 
ones,  her  heart  beat  less  heavily.  She  was  just  pondering 
on  retreat,  and  wondering  whether  Leo  might  not  be  made 
rear-guard,  when  the  dog's  cold  nose  again  was  laid  upon 
her  hand.  Only  just  laid  there,  for  anon  he  bounded  off, 
and  leaped  caressingly  upon  the  motionless  hunchback. 

Fadette  grew  more  and  more  amazed  in  view  of  her 
rough  pet's  wild  conduct.  Again  and  again  would  he 
return,  just  touch  her  fingers,  and  spring  aw^ay  to  fawn 
upon  the  stranger.  That  sage  old  Leo  should  so  suddenly 
be  losing  his  sagacity  was,  to  her  respect  for  it,  incom- 
prehensible. And  she  paused,  her  attention  fixed  closely 
upon  him. 

"  The  purse,  the  purse !"  she  cried  after  a  moment,  be- 
coming convinced  that  it  was  that,  still  clasped  in  her 
hand,  which  the  dog  had  scented,  thus  tracing  it  to  him 
who  had  laid  it  in  the  hollow  tree.  Yes,  of  that  there 
could  remain  no  doubt — every  moment  the  animal  made  it 
clearer  and  clearer. 

Fadette  stood  irresolute,  more  confused  than  ever,  in  the 
effort  to  reconcile  the  wretched  being  before  her,  and  that 
drear  abode,  with  the  hamper  and  the  shining  coins. 
Presently  it  flashed  across  her  mind  that  it  was  iK)t  as 
donor,  but  as  emissary,  that  the  hunchback  had  touched 
the  purse.  What  more  possible,  to  say  the  least,  than  that 
her  aunt's  false  friend  should  choose  a  messenger  incapaci 


200  nAxnoLPu  iioxob. 

tated  by  nature  from  betraying,  as  his  employer  had 
betrayed  ?  Acting  on  the  impulse,  she  held  out  the  purse 
toward  him.  If  she  were  rash,  she  said  to  herself,  she  had 
a  diamond  brooch,  sole  relict  of  her  jewel-casket,  which, 
though  she  valued  it  as  her  guardian's  gift,  must  go  to 
replace  this  money,  should  it  be  lost,  as  she  would  ere  long 
contrive  to  ascertain. 

"  I  will  put  this  purse  again  into  the  hamper,"  she  said 
slowly  and  impressively,  recollecting  she  had  heard  that 
idiots  have,  iii  parrot-style,  remembered  and  repeated  mes- 
sages. "  Go  you,  and  tell  him  who  sent  you  with  it,  he 
shall  pay  his  debt  as  before,  and  not  with  gold." 

Looking  on  him  intently,  she  seemed  to  catch  one  gleam 
of  intelligence  in  the  dark  eyes  which  met  her  own.  But 
the  next  instant  they  were  lowered  from  hers,  an  insensate 
blankness  passed  over  the  countenance,  and  an  incoherent 
jumbling  of  unmeaning  words  was  muttered  forth — mildly 
and  good-naturedly,  however — tlirough  the  heavy  beard. 

Fadette  was  relieved  from  her  lingering  doubt,  while  still 
the  purse  was  in  her  power.  For  when  she  and  Leo  had 
passed  out  into  the  twilight  air  again,  a  hasty  step  behind 
showed  that  they  were  followed.  Fadette  succeeded  in  re- 
taining her  canine  escort,  and  passed  on  rapidh\  As  she 
came  in  view  of  her  oaken  storehouse,  she  saw  the  hunch- 
back near  it,  stoop,  and  drawing  the  hamper  from  conceal- 
ment, unhesitatingly  advance  to  her,  holding  the  lid  back. 
L'nhesitatingly  she  dropped  the  purse  within.  And  he 
shouldered  the  burden,  and  turned  back  on  his  path. 

She  pursued  hers,  wending  homeward  with  old  Dobbin, 
all  the  lighter  that  she  did  not  bear  that  purse's  weight. 

And  that  it  may  be  lifted  finally  from  this  page — Fadette 
on  the  ensuing  "hamper-day"  received,  in  the  feigned 
handwriting  of  her  first  billet,  an  acknowledgment  of  the 
rendition. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

A     LEAP     IN     THE     DARK. 

"  There  are  currents  that  flash  through  the  spirit,  and  crash 
Like  the  clouds  on  the  air, 
While  the  visor  is  closed  and  the  frame  looks  composed 

As  as  infant  at  prayer  ;— 
Storms  that  come  from  a  stir  or  a  breath  or  a  sigh, 

To  drag  out  of  the  Past 
Shapes  of  passion  abjured,  and  of  outrage  endured," 

A.  J.  Requier. 


XOTHER  week  went  by.  Another  sunset  of  lam- 
bent glow  was  flooding  the  vast  and  lone  expanse 
of  prairie,  when  homeward,  down  the  mountain- 
side, plodded  old  Dobbin  again,  with  his  sledge  of  fuel  and 
provisions.  The  rude  ro^je-reins  hung  loosely  on  Fadette's 
arm,  as  she  walked  on  beside  the  ancient  gray.  Yet  the 
task  of  guiding  that  meditative  sage  might  seem  to  have 
devolved  upon  the  hunchback,  who  followed  close  behind, 
and  who,  as  now  and  then  she  turned  to  observe  him,  with 
uncouth  yet  friendly  gestures  urged  on  the  animal,  mutter- 
ing the  while  incoherent  phrases  and  snatches  of  wild  song. 
This  harmless  creature  for  months  had  crossed  her  path, 
seemingly  as  attached  and  as  faithful  as  his  demonstrative 
friend  Leo,  now  fawning  at  his  side.  Mysterious  agent  of 
her  mysterious  supj^lies,  he  to-day  had  himself  loaded  her 


sledge, 


and  was  now  following,  as  if  to  guard  her  home. 


Yet  Fadette  could  never  look  upon  him  without  an  inward 
shudder,  and  a  shrinking  which  she  had  not  always  taken 
care  to  repress,  until  she  once  caught,  beneath  the  broad 


2.52  RAyDOLPH  HOyOR. 

black  hat  always  pressed  low  upon  his  brows,  a  pained 
gleam  of  the  dark  eyes.  That  at  once  placed  the  innocent 
nearer  the  level  of  humanity,  and  mingled  something  of 
tender  pity  in  her  manner.  Notwithstanding  the  natural 
repulsion  of  his  aspect,  since  he  had  more  than  once,  after 
the- cave  adventure,  joined  Leo  in  her  rambles  at  the  close 
of  the  day's  toil,  she  had  speedily  learned  to  regard  him  as 
a  lawful  unobtrusive  retainer,  like  Leo,  and  to  feel  addi- 
tional protection  in  his  presence. 

Therefore  she  walked  on  leisurely,  while  twilight  shades 
were  gathering  in.  Round  the  precipitous  angle,  the  not 
distant  walls  of  the  cottage  were  visible  between  foliage 
which  had  yet  begun  scarcely  to  manifest  a  faint  yellow 
tinge  of  autumn.  Fadette  noted  with  a  passing  sadness 
the  desolate  aspect  of  untrimmed  and  overgrown  lawn, 
orchard  broken  down  and  stripped  of  fruit,  and  fields  be- 
yond, where  weeds  run  riot.  But  it  was  an  aspect  to  which 
months  had  inured  her,  and  presently  she  had  stooped  to 
the  tall  grass  rustling  round  and  closing  on  her  footsteps, 
and  had  gathered  among  it  a  rich  handful  of  the  lingering 
prairie-flowers.  Among  these,  as  she  arranged  and  re- 
arranged the  brilliant  hues,  she  espied  a  tuft  of  that  ubi- 
quitous weed,  of  golden  heart  and  snowy  petals,  by  cour- 
tesy yclept  daisy.  And  as  she  had  often  done  at  Randolph 
Honor  and  at  "  Beauregard,"  she  forthwith  essayed  to  do 
here  at  Prairie-Combe — that  is,  to  consult  Dairue  Fortune  at 
the  oracle  which  Goethe  renders  classic.  So,  like  his  Mar- 
garet, she  stripped  off  leaflet  by  leaflet,  and  tossed  them  to 
the  wind.  "  He  loves  me"  —  "  he  loves  me  not" — "  he 
loves  me  I"  The  first  blossom  had  proved  i^ropitious,  and 
she  began  by  a  second  to  test  the  truth  of  its  weird. 

It  would  seem  she  had  full  fiiith  in  the  oracle,  for  her 
eyes  brightened,  and  her  color  deepened  to  a  blush  tinging 
even  the  blue-veined  temples,  while  the  lips  which  so  softly 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  203 

formed  the  words,  quivered  somewhat,  and  so  quivered  into 
flist-flitting  smiles.  Pacing  there  absorbed,  her  head  bent 
over  her  fote-flower,  she  was  unconscious  of  the  hunch- 
back's near  approach,  and  of  the  stealthy  gaze  he  fastened 
on  her  face.  The  flash  of  those  shaded  eyes,  in  other  than 
the  idiot's  countenance,  would  have  been  eloquent  of  eager 
breathless  hope,  of  fear,  and  doubt,  and  passionate  tender- 
ness. Yet  had  Fadette  caught  the  expression,  she  would 
have  judged  it  but  another  of  those  fantastic  pranks  of 
Nature,  by  which  the  most  pitiful  of  her  creations  may  lift 
our  thoughts  one  moment — 

" the  true  Pan, 

Who  by  low  creatures,  leads  to  heights  of  love." 

The  gaze  was  unseen.  Leo's  friend  fell  back,  when  other 
hoof-beats  mingled  with  Dobbin's,  and  through  the  grass 
another  horse  pushed  on.  His  rider  sprang  to  the  ground 
almost  at  Fadette's  side.  She  turned  suddenly  at  the 
sound,  the  mutilated  daisy  in  the  act  of  further  dismem- 
berment, and  the  audible  "  he  loves  me,"  yet  upon  her  lips. 

"  And  who  is  it  that  loves  you  ?"  were  Ruthven  Erie's 
first  words,  as  she  stood  still,  and  with  a  faint  cry  of  joy 
unspeakable  yielded  her  hand  to  his  firm  clasp. 

'She  stole  a  quick  glance  up  into  his  eyes.  They  Avere 
resting  upon  her  face  with  such  a  full  deep  sense  of  perfect 
repose  and  content,  that  intuitively  she  knew  they  had 
yearned  for  that  vision  through  all  this  more  than  year. 
Her  blushes  came  fast  and  faster,  and  she  had  answered 
nothing,  had  not  even  uttered  a  syllable  of  greeting,  Avhen 
he  drew  her  arm  within  his,  and  they  walked  slowly  home- 
ward thus  together. 

Many  were  the  questions  to  which  she  must  now  reply. 
And  for  the  first  time  she,  with  deprecating,  timid  glances, 
confided  the  secret  of  the  hollow  oak.     But  though  there 


264  RAXDOLPU  UOXOR. 

his  brows  contracted  one  instant,  the  next  he  had  hut 
smiles  and  commendations,  and  assertion  of  his  full  faith  in 
his  little  trustee. 

The  hunchback  followed,  unheeded,  to  the  gate.  Mo- 
ment by  moment  his  brow  lowered,  as  he  watched  the  two, 
who,  with  no  word,  no  glance  of  love  that  passed  the  guard 
thus  placed  on  eyes  and  lips,  yet  went  on  thus  together  as 
if  their  steps  through  life  were  destined  to  wend  ever  side 
by  side.  Now  his  nether  lip  was  compressed,  and  his  hand, 
which  rested  on  Leo's  shaggy  head,  clenched  so  violently, 
that  the  animal,  with  a  low  growl,  looked  round  in  search 
of  the  disturber  of  his  friend's  tranquillity.  Ruthven  Erie 
was  at  that  moment  saying,  that  now  he  was  here  to  ar- 
range those  woful  money-matters,  she  should  no  longer 
be  dependent  upon  the  precarious  bounty  of  any  dryad  of 
the  oaks. 

One  ray  of  something  akin  to  joy  had  for  an  instant 
illumined  the  dark  watching  face.  Ruthven  Erie  had  fixed 
on  him  a  scrutinizing  gaze,  and  then  turned  to  the  young 
girl,  asking  who  her  singular  escort  might  be.  The  harsh 
word  "  idiot"  had  faltered  upon  Fadette's  lips,  and  she  had 
substituted — 

"  An — innocent,  as  kindly  Scots  would  say.  Indeed  you 
do  not  know,  Mr.  Erie,  how  much  I  am  indebted  to  him. 
He  seems  almost  of  right  my  protector — like  dear  old  Leo 
here." 

And  so  they  reached  the  gate. 

"  Oh,  Missy,  Missy  !" 

"  What  is  it.  Mammy  ?"  cried  Fadette,  starting  up 
alarmed,  a*S  the  faithful  old  woman  unceremoniously  threw 
open  her  chamber-door. 

It  was  nearly  two  hours  since  the  inmates  of  Prairie- 
Combe   had  parted   for  the  night,    yet  Fadette    had  not 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  205 

sought  repose,  but  had  sunk  back  in  her  easy-chair,  still 
dressed.  Her  eyes  closed  to  the  feeble  glimmer  of  her  low 
lamp ;  bright  waking  dreams  were  flitting  through  her 
mind  so  fast,  that  she  was  unconscious"  of  the  lapse  of 
time. 

"Soldiers,  honey — the  house  all  surrounded.  Captain 
say  he  must  have  feed  for  the  horses  right  away.  Whar 
Mars'  Ruthven  ?     He'll  be  done  took  now  sure — " 

"The  dark  lantern.  Mammy — quick!"  Fadette  inter- 
rupted, springing  up.  "Your  Mars'  Ruthven  is  not  in 
the  house,  but  sleeping  in  the  barn-loft.  I  have  the  key 
here,  and  we  will — yes,  we  will  save  him !  Get  the  lan- 
tern, and  we  will  go  up  ourselves  and  throw  down  the  oats 
required.  I'll  awake  Miss  Janet,  and  meet  you  at  the 
door." 

She  stood  very  composedly  upon  the  piazza  steps, 
answering  the  armed  men  below,  with  some  feeling  of 
security,  even  while  their  bayonets  flashed  out  from  time 
to  time  in  the  moonbeams  struggling  through  drifting 
clouds.  For  her  two  protectors,  Leo  and  the  hunchback, 
were  close  beside  her,  the  latter  curbing  the  low  growling 
anger  of  his  companion  by  a  hand  laid  on  his  head.  The 
soldiers  were  sufiiciently  civil,  the  captain  even  going  so 
far  as  to  express  an  apologetic  regret  for  this  midnight 
intrusion,  rendered  unavoidable,  as  he  explained,  by  a  long 
march  since  sunset,  and  the  necessity  for  repose  and  re- 
freshment until  dawn.  For  there  was  important  service 
to  be  accomplished  in  the  coming  day,  he  said  with  some 
importance. 

Fadette's  lip  curled,  even  as  it  paled.  But  she  returned 
answer  graciously  enough,  for  she  felt  that  only  by  so 
doing  would  she  be  permitted  to  do  the  honors  of  the  barn- 
loft.  Therefore,  when  the  lantern  appeared,  Fadette's 
proposal  met  with  no  objection. 

'  12 


236  BASDOLPn  HOXOR. 

"  Come,  Mammy,"  said  Fadette,  taking  the  light  from 
her  hand. 

But  as  the  hunchback  made  a  movement  as  if  he  too 
would  follow,  and  Leo  bounded  foi-T\'ard  to  her  side,  she 
turned  hastily,  whispering — 

"  No — stay — your  Miss  Janet  or  Miss  Matoaca  may  need 
you.  I  think  I  hear  them  coming  down  even  now.  And 
oh,  Mammy,  have  a  care  of  the  silver  spoons,"  she  added 
yet  lower. 

Rapidly,  yet  curbing  her  impatient  gait  to  the  pace  of 
the  soldiers,  about  fifty  in  number,  who  led  their  horses 
trampling  after,  she  crossed  the  lawn,  and  reached  the 
barn,  which  stood  upon  the  prairie's  verge. 

As  she  turned  the  ponderous  key  in  the  lock  her  hand 
trembled,  and  for  an  instant  she  leaned  there  powerless. 
What  if  she  could  not  deter  the  men  from  following  ? 
What  if  she  should  thus  be  opening  the  door  the  sooner  to 
his  foes  ?  Yet  at  the  worst,  she  might  suddenly  extinguish 
the  light,  and  so  aftbrd  a  slender  chance  of  escape  in  the 
confusion.  At  all  events,  the  door  must  be  opened.  The 
necessity  nerved  her  to  push  it  wide  on  creaking  hinges 
before  her  hesitation  was  observed.  ^ 

Her  timid  plea  of  waste  and  trampling  of  the  grain  was 
admitted,  and,  with  the  hunchback,  she  received  permission 
to  mount  the  ladder  to  the  loft,  while  the  men  remained 
Avithout.  Poor  Leo  whined  remonstratingly  when  she 
stationed  him  on  guard  at  the  ladder's  foot,  bidding  him 
lie  down,  and  pointing  to  the  doors,  that  had  now  swung 
to,  in  token  that  he  was  to  watch.  But  as  she  would  not 
relent,  he  resignedly  couched  down,  dropped  his  muzzle  on 
his  paws,  and  fixed  a  vigilant  eye  in  the  direction  which 
she  signified. 

She  held  aloft  the  lantern  on  gaining  the  high-raftered 
loft,  spacious  enough  to  have  contained  stores  heaped  on 


BANDOLPII  HONOR.  2(i7 

stores,  instead  of  this  scant  supply,  which  ill-conditioned 
Dobbin  might  visibly  have  reduced  in  one  day  of  plenty. 

The  light  flared  full  upon  the  hay,  which  was  piled  close 
beside  the  long,  broad  window  or  doorway,  from  which,  as 
if  for  air,  the  shutter  had  been  withdrawn.  And  there, 
upon  that  fragrant  couch,  lay  Ruthven  Erie,  outstretched 
in  deep  unbroken  slumber. 

Fadette  drew  near,  turning  the  dark  side  of  the  lantern 
so  that  those  who  waited  beneath  the  window  might  see 
nothing. 

He  had  evidently  thrown  himself  down  there,  to  rise  pre- 
pared for  any  surprise.  The  arm  on  which  his  head  was 
pillowed,  had  hardly  even  in  sleep  relaxed  its  hold  of  a 
pistol,  and  his  hat  lay  close  beside.  Yet  though  danger 
was  present  to  him,  dreams  were  not  of  it,  for  as  she  knelt 
there,  shielding  him  from  the  window,  a  smile  passed  over 
his  face.  She  laid  a  light  touch  on  the  hand  flung  across 
his  breast,  for  she  feared  to  rouse  him  suddenly,  lest  in  the 
waking  by  some  hasty  movement  he  might  disclose  himself, 
in  Confederate  uniform  as  he  was,  to  those  below. 

"  Mr.  Erie  !"  she  called  softly—"  Mr.  Erie  !" 

The  eyes  opened  on  her  for  an  instant,  dreamful  still,  and 
the  hand  closed  firmly  upon  hers. 

"  My  darling  !  my  little  one  !  at  last — at  last — "  he  mur- 
mured. And  then  the  words  died  away  in  indistinct  ut- 
terance, and  again  the  regular  breathing  told  of  a  sleep  un- 
broken. 

Fadette  blushed  crimson.  But  a  dark  face  looking  down 
over  her  shoulder  as  she  knelt,  turned  ghastly  pale.  There 
was  a  strange  gleam  of  the  eyes,  and  the  white  set  teeth  for 
one  moment  flashed  out  in  a  grim  smile  through  the  heavy 
black  beard. 

"  At  last — at  last !"  he  muttered.  "  And  at  last  I  will — 
nay,  I  will — have  my  revenge  !" 


268  RAXDOLPH  JIOXOR. 

He  had  taken  one  step  toward  the  window,  with  that 
baleful  glare  as  of  a  goaded  lion.  But  the  movement 
roused  Fadette. 

She  put  out  her  hand  and  touched  his,  clenched  until  the 
nails  had  pierced  the  flesh.  Her  uplifted  eyes  were  dazed 
with  fast-coming  tears,  Avhich  pleaded  with  her  words  : 

"  Ah,  go,  go — throw  them  out — there,  there  is  a  spade — 
these  oats.  Quick,  quick — one  moment  for  life  !  Ah,  if 
you  love  me — poor  fellow,  he  understands — will  he  do  it  ? 
One  moment  to  save  him,  my — Lionel,  Lionel,  God  knows 
I  would  be  true  to  you  !" 

She  almost  gasped  the  last  words  out,  bending  over  the 
slumberer  again,  and  almost  forgetful  of  her  prayer  to  the 
hunchback.  But  he,  who  had  stood  irresolute,  sprang  for- 
ward even  as  she  ended.  And  the  first  spadeful  of  oats 
passed,  on  its  downward  way,  the  vociferous  rising  clamor 
for  the  cause  of  delay. 

A  second  attempt,  and  then  a  third,  and  Ruthven  Erie's 
eyes  again  opened — this  time  roused  slowly  into  a  long  earn- 
est gaze  of  anxious  surprise.  Fadette  did  not  give  him 
space  to  speak. 

"  Armed  men  below,"  she  whispered.  Stay — you  must 
move  cautiously — they  will  else  see  you  from  the  window. 
What  shall  I  do  ?  They  are  here  to  feed  the  horses,  and 
when  all  the  oats  and  hay  are  thrown  to  them,  they  will 
hardly  believe  me,  but  will  mount,  no  doubt,  to  see  for 
themselves.     Tell  me  what  to  do,  Mr.  Erie !" 

"  Why,  yonder  is  a  pile  of  oats  sufficient." 

"  Ah,  but  all  damaged." 

"  Listen,  then,"  he  said  quickly.  "  Bid  your  squire  of 
dames  toss  down  some  of  the  damaged  oats,  and  when  they 
will  grumble,  do  you  request  them  to  go  round  to  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  barn,  whence  you  must  lavish  the  good 
grain.     A  leap  in  the  dark  is  my  only  hope  of  escape.     Of 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  2G9 

course  they  will  hear  me,  but,  once  upon  the  ground— they 
are  all  dismounted,  you  say  ?— it  is  but  man  to  man,  and 
the  odds  in  my  favor,  I  being  remarkably  fleet-footed,  while 
they  must  lose  time  in  confusion.  But  should  the  worst 
come  to  the  worst"— he  hastily  drew  forth  a  package  of 
papers—"  you  shall  take  these.  If  any  thing  happens— 
nay,  there  will  not,  my  little  friend — destroy  them.  But  I 
shall  return  in  a  few  days  to  claim  them,  as  they  are  army 
papers  of  importance.  Where  am  I  going  ?  Why,  the 
gallant  little  guerrilla  squad  under  whose  wing  I  am  re- 
cruiting at  present  would  be  swallowed  up  by  this  force,  so 
w^e  will  change  our  camp  for — " 

The  name  was  audible  only  to  her,  while  the  hvmch- 
back,  who  unbidden  had  already  tossed  down  several 
spadefuls  of  the  damaged  grain,  might  have  seemed  to 
pause  an  instant  to  hear.  Just  then  a  curse  w^as  returned 
in  exchange  for  the  bad  provender.     And  Fadette  called 

out — 

"  Gentlemen,  I  fear  the  oats  here  are  damaged.  If  you 
will  go  round  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  barn — " 

A  trampling  of  horses  and  of  men,  a  ringing  of  sabres 
and  of  carbines,  and  the  coast  was  clear. 

Ruthven  Erie  sprang  to  his  feet,  as  Fadette  rose,  in  her 
breathless  anxiety  entirely  forgetful  that  all  this  while  he 
had  not  relaxed"  the  clasp  of  her  hand.  The  hunchback, 
still  pauselessly  shovelling  out  the  grain,  cast  a  glance  over 
his  misshapen  shoulder,  as  the  two  stood  for  a  moment 
there  together. 

ISTo,  not  one  word  of  love  in  this  parting  full  of  agony. 
Only  one  closer  pressure  of  the  hand  before  he  let  it  fall 
helplessly  to  her  side— only  one  long  gaze  in  the  great 
startled  eyes  that  never  wavered  from  his— a  husky  voice, 
which  immediately  he  nerved  to  cheerfulness,  saying : 

"  Courage  !— and  God  bless  my  little  friend  !" 


2V0  RAXDOLPU  IIOXOR 

He  swung  himself  lightly  from  the  window — a  heavy, 
dull  thud  followed. 

Fadette  had  just  strength  and  thought  enough  to  stagger 
to  the  window  in  view  of  the  men,  as  they  started  at  the 
sound.  And  with  one  long  piercing  shriek,  she  fell  heavily 
to  the  floor,  in  a  deep  swoon. 

That  shriek  brought  numbers  thronging  up  the  ladder. 
And  the  two  or  three  who  had  seen  and  pursued  the  fugi- 
tive, were  easily  eluded  and  distanced  in  their  confusion. 

Fadette  had  instantly  been  lifted  in  the  strong  arms  of 
the  hunchback,  and  they  pressed  the  slight  form  closer  and 
closer,  while  passionate  kisses  were  showered  upon  lips  and 
brow,  and  low  words  of  longing  tenderness  were  murmured. 

But  before  the  foremost  soldier  had  gained  the  loft,  and 
Matoaca  and  Mrs.  Rutledge,  followed  by  the  terrified  ser- 
vant, with  both  children  in  her  charge,  won  their  way 
through  the  crowd,  the  idiot  hunchback  had  withdrawn, 
gibbering  and  pointing  with  incoherent  words  at  the  pros- 
trate girl. 

When  she  unclosed  her  eyes,  they  met  her  aunt  bending 
over  her,  and  she  heard  the  low  whisper — 

"  He  is  sa\'^d,  my  child." 

Xo  shadow  of  suspicion  seemed  to  rest  on  the  girl,  as  she 
confirmed  the  story  of  those  men  who  had  seen  the  fugitive, 
and  thus  accounted  for  her  terror. 


CHAPTER    XXI.- 

Alf   AUTO    DA   FE. 

'  The  old  thorns  shall  grow  out  of  the  old  stem." 

Christina  Rossetti. 


JADETTE  lounged  in  her  chamber- window  early  in 
the  night  ensuing.  She  gazed  out,  across  the 
"  tangle-wild"  lawn  to  the  far-spread  prairie,  where 


rolled  and  wavered  and  swept  on  those  billowy  drifts  of 
white-foam  mists,  here  and  there  tinged  golden  in  the  moon- 
light, and  tossed  downward  from  the  mountains  in  the 
southward  distance. 

The  day  had  been  a  quiet  one,  the  soldiery  departing 
with  the  dawn,  and  no  trace  of  them  or  of  the  bushwhackers, 
of  whom  they  were  doubtless  in  pursuit.  iSTo  word,  either, 
of  Mr.  Erie.  But  Fadette  was  confident  of  his  having  long 
since  reached  the  guerrilla  band,  and  all  pressure  of  inime- 
diate  anxiety  was  over. 

As  she  lounged  there,  the  prairie  narrowed,  in  her  vision, 
to  a  leafy  rock-intrenched  covert — such  a  covert  as  the  par- 
tisan comrades  must  even  now  be  resting  in.  The  lines 
which  Amy  had  repeated  in  "Swamp  Angels'  Rest," 
seemed  intended  for  the  scene  before  her,  and  for  that  on 
which  imaojination  was  now  dwellino^.  For  though  indee<l 
no  dreamful  lake  lay  there,  yet  silvered  mists  were  sleep- 
ing like  a  flood  with  grasses  streaming  on  its  bosom,  and 
the  heavens  in  the  shadowy  night  were  stooping  low  to 
earth : 


272  EAXDOLPII  IIOXOR        ^ 

And  there,  wliere  the  boughs  stir  apart  in  the  gloaming-, 
Moving  drowsily  back  for  dreams  going  and  coming, 
They  sleep — though  the  wood-tick  is  sounding  alarms, 
And  the  night-owl  forebodeth — they  sleep  on  their  amis, 
That  band  of  guerrillas. 

HoTrever,  no  flieasiired  tread  now  shook  the  turf,  and 
if  the  flowers  wept,  they  wept  no  tears  of  blood,  but  rather 
glistening  dews  of  tranquillity  untroubled. 

Fadette's  tranquillity,  as  she  leaned  from  the  window, 
"S^as  broken  by  a  movement  through  the  shrubbery  a  stone's 
throw  from  the  house.  There,  even  while  her  lips  went  on 
mechanically  with  the  murmured  vei-se,  her  attention  was 
fixed.  The  density  of  branching  lindens  lay  between,  and 
clouds  that  in  the  rising  v\Tlnd  fled  fast  across  the  moon, 
gloomed  also  on  the  lawn.  But  when  those  shadows 
tossed  apart,  and  flickering  beams  leaped  out  between,  she 
saw,  or  thought  she  saw,  a  creeping  something  dragging 
its  slow  dark  length  along  in  this  direction.  Xow  it  surely 
lifted  itself  erect,  an  undefined  form  in  the  shelter  of  that 
dense  clump  of  cedars.     And  again  it  was  lost  to  sight. 

She  had  started  up,  and  bent  forward,  yet  prudently 
shielding  herself  behind  the  curtains,  though  with  a  mis- 
giving that  this  precaution  came  too  late.  The  idea  had 
suddenly  suggested  itself  that  this  might  be  a  straggler  of 
the  company  here  last  night. 

"\\"ith  a  shudder  she  took  up  the  small  silver-mounted 
pistol  which,  still  innocent  of  blood,  had  been  so  long  com- 
panion of  her  wandering^s.  But  she  breathed  a  deep  breath 
of  relief  as  she  laid  it  down  again,  remembering  that  were 
this  a  midnight  robber,  his  fellows  doubtless  were  in  hear- 
ing, and  the  reverberation  of  that  pistol-shot  might  involve 
Prairie-Combe  in  ruin  all  the  speedier. 

Yet  though  she  blenched  before  so  desperate  a  deed,  she 
had  no  will  to  yield  helplessly  to  any  foe.     That  fearful 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  273 

night  at  "  Sleepy  Hollow"  swept  back  upon  her,  and  nerved 
her  into  firmness. 

She  waited. 

One  flash  of  the  moon  had  disclosed  to  her  the  figure  of 
a  man.  And  she  knew,  even  by  the  treacherous  twilight, 
how  he  crept  on  through  the  openings,  and  pushed  on 
through  the  bushes,  in  the  endeavor  to  remain  unseen. 

And  now — yes,  she  knew,  though  the  moon  was  hope- 
lessly enshrouded— he  stood  beneath  this  very  window. 
And  now — and  now  was  climbing  with  slow  caution  up 
the  rose-wreathed  trellis,  which  would  bring  him  within  his 
length  of  the  lattice. 

Since  the  danger  had  reached  her  at  the  last,  no  muscle 
quivered.  Her  resolve  was  made.  While  she  stood  there 
on  guard,  straining  her  sight  through  the  dark  for  those 
clinging  hands  she  knew  must  be  ever  lifting  her  enemy 
nearer,  through  her  memory  had  thrilled  the  story  of  a 
spectral  hand  which  thrust  itself  through  a  broken  pane  in 
a  weird  old  mansion;  and  of  the  watcher  within,  who 
caught  the  wrist  and  dragged  it  ruthlessly  to  and  fro 
against  the  keen-edged  glass,  until  at  length  it  threatened 
him  no  more.  And  this  window— there  was  her  danger ; 
there  also  might  be  her  security.  The  massive  old-timed 
oaken  sash,  so  cumbrous  to  uplift,  so  swdft  to  fall  with 
heavy  thud  by  its  own  weight,  she  raised  from  its  support 
and  upheld  with  both  arms,  ready  for  a  swoop  on  such 
unwary  members  as  must  venture  under.  She  turned  her 
thoughts  resolutely  away,  which  pictured  the  maimed 
wretch,  his  hold  powerless  and  crushed,  staggering  upon 
his  perilous  foothold— reeling  backward— crashing  down 
among  the  rose-boughs— huddled  in  a  heap  below  there, 
senseless,  shattered,  perchance  dead.  She  turned  her 
thoughts  away,  waiting  with  undaunted  courage,  though 
with  marble  lip  and  cheek.     She  stood,  somewhat  shielded 


274  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

by  the  curtains,  yet  keeping  ceaseless  vigil  down  upon  the 
climber,  a  mere  dark  blot  TV'ithiu  the  gloom,  against  the 
wall. 

For  thunder-clouds  were  hurrying  together  after  the 
sultry  summer-like  day,  and  the  moon  had  dropped  behind 
a  bank  of  midnight  blackness.  Fadette  could  hardly  see, 
but  seemed  to  feel  that  shadow  creeping  up  and  up,  until  ifr 
gained  the  topmost  trellis-bar.  One  instant,  and  the  arm's- 
length  grasp  must  close  upon  the  window-ledge.  One  in- 
stant, and  that  ponderous  oak  must  fall,  a  thunderbolt  of 
vengeance,  hurling  down  destruction.     She  stood  prepared. 

One  hand  had  groped  its  way  there,  clutching  fast  the 
sill.  She  had  just  caught  the  rustling  motion,  and  at  the 
same  time  the  moon  broke  forth  triumphantly  from  her  im- 
prisonment— broke  forth  as  if  to  guide  the  other  hand,  now 
stretched  out  upward  too.  And  now  Fadette  must  act. 
Relentless  and  ghastly  as  the  death  she  would  award,  she 
yet  leans  slightly  forward  for  one  glimpse  of  her  fore- 
doomed victim. 

One  glimpse — A  glad  cry  of  wonder  parted  her  white 
lips.  And  the  grasp  erewhile  so  steady,  trembled  almost 
powerlessly,  as  with  difficulty  she  succeeded  in  securing  the 
sash  in  its  old  position. 

For  it  was  the  uncouth  figure  of  the  hunchback,  which 
the  reappearing  moon  revealed.  Another  movement,  and 
he  had  sprung  through  the  window  into  the  apartment. 

But  Fadette  shrank  back,  the  first  feeling  of  relief  gone. 
Xow  that  she  had  through  her  own  thoughtless  impulse 
admitted  him,  a  horror  seized  her— thus  alone  with  an  un- 
reasonins:  beins:  in  the  dead  hour  of  the  niorht,  with  not  one 
human  soul  to  aid,  should  his  accustomed  gentleness  desert 
him,  and  frenzy  take  possession  of  the  wild  misshapen  form. 
Such  a  change  would  have  been  scarcely  more  surprising 
than  his  appearance  at  this  time,  in  this  manner. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  275 

She  retreated  a  few  paces,  putting  her  right  hand  nerv- 
ously upon  tlie  pistol  as  it  lay  and  glittered  in  the  moon- 
beams shifting  on  the  table.  She  did  so,  however,  less 
with  the  thought  of  self-defence  than  of  keeping  the  weapon 
from  his  sight.  An  irrepressible  shudder  of  disgust  and 
terror  shook  her,  and  she  stretched  out  her  left  hand  with 
a  strong  repellant  gesture. 

The  hunchback  stood  irresolute.  She  marked  the  omi- 
nous lowering  of  his  black  brows.  But  before  the  shriek 
which  trembled  on  her  lips  could  leave  them,  he  had  sud- 
denly dropped  upon  one  knee  before  her,  bowing  his  head 
in  silence,  and  extending  a  folded  slip  of  paper. 

She  drew  near  and  took  it  from  him,  not  without  a 
tremor,  but  also  with  vehement  self-reproach.  And,  strik- 
ing a  light,  she  bent  eagerly  over  the  writing. 

There  were  but  a  few  lines,  the  feigned  characters  those 
of  her  provident  genius  of  the  hollow  oak.  Fixed  in  the 
belief  that  this  mysterious  personage  was  identical  with  the 
false  friend  of  her  aunt,  the  recognition  filled  her  with  dis- 
trust. And  as  she  read  and  re-read  the  paper  for  the 
third  time,  that  feeling  grew  yet  stronger. 

The  writer  intimated  that  Federal  troops  in  numbers 
were  shortly  to  rendezvous  in  the  vicinity,  for  the  purpose  of 
penetrating  to  the  mountainous  retreat  of  a  bushwhacking 
band — with  whom  she,  Fadette,  was  known  to  be  in  cor- 
respondence, he  asserted.  And  he  besought  her  to  send 
him,  by  the  bearer,  directions  whereby  he  might  convey  to 
that  retreat  a  timely  warning. 

The  young  girl's  brows  contracted  in  anxiety  and  doubt. 
But  ere  long  the  indignant  blood  rose  in  her  cheek,  and 
she  tore  the  paper  in  a  thousand  fragments,  setting  her 
small  foot  upon  them,.  So!  make  her  the  agent  of  his' 
treachery !  Or  ruin  her  aunt  yet  further,  having  proof  of 
her  complicity  with  hunted-down    and    outlawed   rebels,  | 


276  RANDOLPH  HOXOE. 

She  did  not  stay  to  contrast  this  purpose  with  the  friend- 
liness or  the  remorse  to  which  the  oak  bore  witness.  She 
dared  not  trust  those  lives,  so  many  and  so  dear,  to  a 
senseless  messenger  and  to  a  coward  traitor — or  an  un- 
known, at  the  best.  She  herself  would  bear  the  message, 
and  at  once. 

In  the  excitement  of  that  resolution  she  totally  forgot 
the  envoy,  who  meantime  had  risen,  still  regarding  her 
fixedly. 

With  a  noiseless  though  hun-ied  step,  she  quitted  the 
apartment  and  descended  the  stairs,  traversing  the  hall 
to  the  rear  of  the  house,  where  she  cautiously  opened  a 
door. 

There  lay  the  old  "  Mammy,"  as  negroes  are  wont, 
oblivious  of  her  comfortable  room  and  bed,  wrapped  in 
her  blanket,  her  feet  outstretched  to  the  glowing  kitchen 
fire. 

Fadette  stooped  and  touched  her,  and  she  started  up,  on 
the  alert  at  once,  as  if  yet  accustomed  to  the  summons  of 
"  Miss  little  Janet's"  babyhood. 

"  Up,  Mammy,  and  lock  the  front  door  after  me,"  the 
girl  said'  hastily.  "So  sui-prised?  Yes,  I  am  indeed 
going  out.  I  have  a  word  for  Mars'  Ruthven  which,  if  I 
deliver  not  to-night,  he  must  be  made  a  prisoner.  Go  with 
me  ?  Indeed,  I  wish  you  could.  You  know  there  is  no 
horse  but  Mars'  Ruthven's,  which  you  and  I  this  morning 
hid,  and  I  must  ride  for  dear  life.  Come,  come — and 
remember  you  are  to  awake  no  one,  but  watch  for  me 
yourself     I  will  be  here  in  safety  before  dawn." 

And  disregarding  all  dissuasive  whisperings,  she  led  the 

^  way  into  tlie    hall.     She  was   turning   toward    the   front, 

when  she  perceived  that  the  hunchback  had  already  thrown 

open  a  side-door,  and  was  standing  on  its  threshold.     So 

she  passed  out  there,  once  more  repeating  her  directions  to 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  277 

the  servant,  but  yet  somewhat  regretful  that  she  could  not 
shut  within  her  uncouth  companion,  who  now  seemed  bent 
upon  accompanying  her. 

Hoping  to  escape  his  further  observation,  she  walked 
quickly  on,  without  appearing  to  notice  him.  But  he  drew 
near  when  she  would  have  taken  the  path  which  crossed 
the  lawn,  and  catching  her  shawl,  strove  to  draw  her  gently 
toward  the  shelter  of  the  trees  in  the  rear.  She  hesitated, 
but  obeyed.  For  her  aunt's  chamber,  as  well  as  her  own, 
commanded  the  lawn,  and  the  least  sound  beneath  those 
windows  was  of  all  things  that  which  Fadette  was  most 
desirous  to  avoid. 

Once  in  the  leafy  shelter,  and  winding  cautiously  througli 
the  orchard  wilderness,  she  believed  her  follower  could  not 
but  have  lost  all  trace  of  her.  And  secure  in  this,  she 
gained  the  woodland  at  the  mountain's  foot.  There,  still 
tethered  in  a  rock-hid  glen,  she  found  Ruthven  Erie's 
horse.  Hastily  she  saddled  and  bridled  him,  and  throwing 
one  stirrup  across  in  lieu  of  a  pommel,  sprang  to  her  seat, 
and  was  off  at  a  speed  commensurate  with  the  animal's 
own  wild  delight  at  freedom  from  the  day's  restraint. 

Every  winding  of  the  road  was  known  to  her.  During 
the  first  year  of  sojourn  in  Missouri,  while  yet  all  pros- 
pered, she  had  been  wont  to  rove  the  country  through  at 
will,  and  one  morning  had  chanced  uj^on  this  very  covert 
of  the  partisan-ranger. 

The  moon  was  clouded  hopelessly,  only  redeeming  the 
darkness  to  a  dismal  leaden  tinge.  And  before  she  had 
ridden  far,  the  long-pent  storm  broke  forth.  It  was  no 
furious  tempest,  but  the  rain  dripped  drearily,  until  the 
lonely  ridei*  was  thoroughly  chilled,  despite  her  urgent 
speed.  Her  heart  beat  with  foreboding  as  she  listened  to 
the  thunder's  sullen  mutterings,  deep-drawn  among  those 
rocky  solitudes.     Now  and  then,  as  she  paused  and  waited 


278  PiAXDOLPH  IIOXOR. 

for  the  lightning  to  point  out  her  way  along  a  yet  more 
hazardous  defile,  or  \\\)  a  rugged  height,  she  seemed  to 
hear,  above  the  clashing  of  the  boughs  that  surged  against 
each  other,  and  through  the  dirge-like  soughing  in  the 
pines,  a  clatter  as  of  horse's  hoofs  that  followed  in  the 
distance.  Once  she  thought  she  saw,  with  all  her  senses 
strained  in  anxious  dread,  a  something  moving  toward  her 
through  the  brush.  Yet  when  she  listened,  when  she  looked 
again,  only  the  storm-blare  flickered  on  some  ragged 
branch,  only  a  stone  or  broken  bough  plunged  downward 
with  a  hollow  echo  from  some  crag. 

Fast,  despite  the  darkness  and  the  toilsome  untrod  way, 
she  had  sped  on  until  at  last  her  goal  was  reached.  Clam- 
bering up  that  wooded  scaur  of  impracticable  aspect,  she 
checked  her  gallant  horse,  and  gazed  down  on  the  scene 
which  the  lightning  now  illuminated. 

There  lay  a  narrow  gorge,  towered  over  on  all  sides  by 
gaunt  gray  precipices,  where  but  a  stunted  thicket  here  and 
there  broke  into  the.  sterility.  Far,  far  below,  its  belt  of 
pasture  was  traversed  by  a  brook,  which  speedily  meandered 
back  into  the  bosom  of  the  mountain.  Under  the  shelter 
of  a  vast  impending  rock,  a  rampart  against  missiles  from 
above,  dimly-discerned  forms  were  lying  prone  at  rest ;  and 
around,  their  horses  grazed  in  the  lulling  of  the  storm.  All 
this  Fadette  observed,  and  then  addressed  herself  to  the 
descent. 

The  tortuous  way  wound  down  from  cliff  to  cliff*,  less 
perilous  than  it  appeared  above,  and  now  she  had  nearh^ 
reached  its  foot.  She  turned  a  sudden  promontory,  and 
there,  attracted  by  the  sound  of  voices,  and  peering  through 
the  intertwining  brush,  she  saw,  a  hundred  feet  below,  a 
picket-guard  of  three  or  four,  around  a  smouldering  camp- 
fire.  One  man,  apart,  lay  at  full  length,  his  face  pressed 
downward  on  his  folded  amis  that  rested  on  the  rain-soaked 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  2*79 

p^vavd,— in  an  attitnde,  it  struck  P\aclette,  of  utter  abandon- 
ment to  despair.  Another,  lounging  beneath  a  rock,  was 
busied  in  splicing  a  bridle  by  the  light  of  a  torch  held  over 
his  shoulder  by  a  comrade  reclining  there  above,  and  who, 
from  his  whistled  medley  of  many  tunes,  presently  rang 
out,  clear  and  full  and  strong,  a  song  which  echoed  back 
from  crag  to  crag,  while  the  other  men  took  up  the  chorus. 
Fadette  tarried,  listening : 

♦'  Up,  comrades,  np  !     The  moon's  in  the  west, 
And  we  must  be  gone  ere  the  dawn  of  the  day  : 
The  hounds  of  old  Pennock  shall  find  but  the  nest— 
The  Quantrell  they  seek  shall  be  far,  far  away. 

"  Though  they  scout  thro'  the  bush,  though  they  scour  the  plain, 
We'll  pass  through  their  midst  in  the  dead  of  the  night ; 
Their  toil  after  us  shall  be  ever  in  vain— 

We  are  lions  in  combat,  Ave're  eagles  in  flight. 
Up,  my  brave  band !  up,  up,  and  away ! — 
Press  hard  on  the  foe  ere  the  dawn  of  the  day : 
Look  well  to  your  steeds,  so  gallant  in  chase. 
That  they  never  give  o'er  till  they  win  well  the  race. 

Cliorus — Up,  comrades,  up  ! 

'*  When  Pennock  is  weary,  the  race  given  o'er, 

We'll  come  as  a  thunderbolt  comes  in  the  cloud — 
We'll  traverse,  we'll  rout,  we  will  bathe  in  their  gore, 

We'll  smite  the  oppressor,  we'll  humble  the  proud. 
But  few  shall  escape  us,  but  few  shall  be  spared. 

For  keen  are  our  sabres,  which  vengeance  lias  bared  ; 
And  none  are  so  strong,  so  mighty  in  fight, 

As  the  wanior  wlio  strikes  for  the  South  and  the  Right 

Chorus — Up,  comrades,  up ! 

"  The  bush  is  our  home,  the  green  sod  our  bed — 
We  drink  from  the  river,  and  roots  are  our  food : 
We  pine  not  for  more,  and  we  bow  not  the  head, 
For  Freedom  is  ever  within  the  green  wood. 


280  RANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

The  foe  shall  not  conquer,  his  fetters  not  bind, 
For  trae  are  our  rifles,  our  steeds  like  the  wind  : 
We'll  sheathe  not  the  sword,  we'll  draw  not  the  rein, 
Till  the  invader  be  driven  from  Dixie  again. 

"  Up,  comrades,  up !     The  moon's  in  the  west, 
And  we  must  be  gone  ere  the  dawn  of  the  day : 
The  hounds  of  old  Pennock  shall  find  but  the  nest — 
The  Quantrell  Xhej  seek  shall  be  far,  far  away." 

But,  brave  and  stirring  though  the  song,  a  strain  to  make 
her  pulses  bound  to  its  bold  refrain,  Fadette  heard  little  of 
it.  Since  she  now  realized  that  her  errand  was  accom- 
plished, and  she  herself  in  safety,  thoughts  hitherto  over- 
borne by  excitement  clamored  for  a  hearing,  and  with 
deep  though  unseen  blushes,  she  for  the  first  time  shrank 
from  going  forward  among  those  men,  and  from  meeting 
Kuthven  Erie.  She  wondered,  with  a  sudden  sinking  of 
her  heart  that  had  been  beating  so  courageously,  what  be 
himself  would  think  of  this  her  ride — whether  in  it  she  had 
not  ridden  rough-shod  over  his  standard  of  womanhood — 
whether  Amy,  his  gentle  little  model,  would  ever  have  done 
likewise. 

But,  impatiently  shaking  oiF  these  misgivings,  she  was 
bending,  gathering  up  the  reins  to  urge  her  horse  to  greater 
speed,  when  there  was  a  rustling  in  the  bushes ;  a  man 
sprang  forward  into  the  path  before  her ;  and  in  the  almost 
outer  dark,  she  felt  her  progress  suddenly  checked  by  a 
grasp  upon  the  bridle,  and  she  herself  halted  by  a  quietly 
spoken  challenge. 

For  answer,  she  uttered  a  low  cry  of  delight — 

"Mr.  Erie!    Oh,  Mr.  Erie  !" 


"  You  here !     Merciful  God  !     Y 


ou 


t" 


In  the  sharp  agony  of  his  accents,  she  understood  he  be- 
lieved only  some  great  calamity  could  have  brought  her  to 
him;  thus  she  hastened  to  sav  that  nothing  was  amiss  at 


RANDOLPH  IIONOB.  281 

home.  There  she  faltered.  But  immediately  forcing  her- 
self into  courage,  knowing  from  his  silence  that  he  was 
waiting  for  her,  she  resumed : 

"  I  have  learned  that  you  are  all  in  great  and  imminent 
danger — there  was  but  this  one  way  to  warn  you — and — 
and — I  hope  you  do  not  think  I  have  done  wrong  in  thus — 
But  no,  I  don't  care — I  know  I  am  right !"  she  ended,  de- 
fiantly. 

Another  rustling — this  time  in  the  thicket  overhanging. 
So  slight,  it  might  have  seemed  the  wind  alone.  No  one 
heard  it.  Fadette  looked  down  as  the  moon  broke  faintly 
forth  once  more.  Ruthven  had  loosed  the  bridle  and  was 
standing  at  hep  side.  A  yearning  love  unconquerable 
deepened  his  eyes.  And  when  he  stretched  forth  his  arms 
to  lift  her  from  the  saddle,  he  held  her  closely  to  his  breast 
one  moment  before  he  released.  The  doAvncast  dewy  lashes 
swept  her  burning  blushes,  an  unconscious  sigh  of  happi- 
ness just  quivered  on  her  lips.  No  word  was  spoken  of 
that  which  was  swaying  both  their  souls — no  word,  and  not 
another  glance  or  touch  was  given,  while  they  believed 
themselves  alone,  and*  accountable  to  their  own  conscience 
only. 

But,  with  more  baleful  fury  than  the  now  spent  lightning- 
glare,  dark  eyes  were  flashing  on  them  from  the  tliicket 
there  above. 

Fadette,  overworn,  and  too  weary  both  in  mind  and  body 
for  a  struggle,  would  hardly  in  that  hour  have  thought  on 
bond  or  pledge,  had  Ruthven  urged  his  love  with  but  one 
word.  And  Ruthven,  looking  on  her,  knew  that  well.  It 
smote  him  with  another  and  a  bitterer  pang,  as  he  leaned  in 
silence  against  the  tree  beside  the  rocky  seat  on  which  she 
had  sunk  down. 

"  You  are  cold  and  wet,"  he  said,  concernedly.  "  Will 
you  not  let  me  take  you  to  the  camp-fire  below  ?    We  keep 


282  RAXDOLPH  IIOXOR. 

it  in  a  smouldering  state,  but  yet  it  is  a  fire,  and  can  be 
quickly  kindled  to  a  blaze.  There  you  shall  unfold  your 
tidings  to  the  captain  and  to  me  alone." 

She  roused  herself  with  an  eifort. 

"  No,  no,"  she  replied  hastily.  "  I  have  been  too  long 
exposed  for  any  camp-fire  to  do  me  good.  I  must  tell  my 
story,  and  so  ofi"  again,  trusting  implicitly  in  exercise  to 
keep  off  cold.  My  aunt  and  Matoaca  know  nothing  of  this 
escapade,  and  I  must  be  safe  at  home  before  they  are 
awake." 

Mr.  Erie  listened  attentively  to  Fadette's  account,  and 
agreed  'U'ith  her  as  to  the  importance  of  the  information. 
His  comrades  would,  he  said,  of  course  le^ve  camp,  and  be 
many  miles  away  to  join  the  Confederate  army — they  were 
all  recruits — before  a  cordon  hleu  could  j^ossibly  encompass 
them.  Fadette  had  done  wisely  as  heroically,  in  not 
charging  her  idiot  friend  or  his  unknown  employer  with  the 
power  over  so  many  lives.  He  too  was  unable  to  solve  the 
mystery,  and  thought  her  rash  in  destroying  the  warning 
lines,  which  perhaps  haste  had  confounded  with  the  writing 
of  her  oaken  ally.  But  her  tale  was  of  such  imj^ort  that  he 
would  at  once  acquaint  the  captain  with  it,  and  then  ac- 
company her  home,  as  she  said  the  coast  was  clear.  He 
must  have  returned  at  daylight  for  those  papers  which, 
she  exj^lained,  she  had  hesitated  to  risk  in  her  uncertain 
ride. 

Fadette  lost  sight  of  him  in  the  descent,  but  presently 
saw  him  approach  the  group  below,  and  bending  over  the 
man  outstretched  upon  the  grass,  apparently  speak  to  him 
aside.  The  other  rose  up,  slowly  and  listlessly  she 
thought,  and  both  withdrew  to  a  distance,  remaining  to- 
gether some  moments,  while  the  stranger's  manner  changecl, 
and  his  gestures,  as  Fadette  conjectured  designating  routes 
to  be  pursued,  were  eager  and  interested.     Then  Ruthven 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  283 

parted  from  him  with  a  cordial  hand-clasp,  and  very  soon 
was  once  more  with  Fadette. 

•"  Ah,  you  are  looking  at  my^^ro  tern,  chief,"  he  said,  for 
she  had  not  yet  moved  from  her  post  of  observation. 
"  And,  poor  fellow,  he  has  need  of  all  womanly  compassion. 
His  is  the  history  of  hundreds  of  our  bushwhackers — men 
wlio  by  some  dire  deed  of  tyranny  have  been  driven  to 
take  retribution  into  their  own  hands,  and,  striking  for  the 
cause  of  freedom,  will  rather  remain  in  a  position  to  count 
every  blow.  There  is  a  reminiscence  of  old  heroic  heathen- 
dom in  thus  sacrificing  to  the  manes  of  their  dead.  Those 
who  have  not  suffered  with  them,  perhaps  can  see  with  you 
and  me  that  our  country's  foe  is  not  hydra-headed,  but 
wields  the  lives  in  his  command  as  weapons,  and  that  as 
Aveapons  we  should  be  content  to  strike  them  from  his 
hand.  Our  friend  down  there  cannot  feel  this,  with  the 
sword  thrust  in  his  heart — with  the  remembrance  of  his 
gray-haired  father  hung  on  liis  own  threshold — with  the 
late  knowledge  of  his  frail  young  wife  at  last  dead  in  a 
rigorous  prison.  But  the  brave  men  you  have  rescued 
could  never  be  in  trustier  hands.  Our  true-blue  friends 
may  reserve  their  hempen  cravats,  as  they  will  not  fit  these 
necks  to-morrow.  Hey  presto  !  Ave  are  all  vanished,  by  the 
magic  of  one  little  Fadette,  as  she  well  calls  herself.  And 
now  for  a  gallop,  since  that  perilous  gorge  is  fairly  left 
behind,  and  the  moon  again  lends  light  upon  the  safer 
level." 

Xo  hoofs  sounded  behind  in  the  rapid  homeward  ride. 
But  along  another  and  more  circuitous  route  there  was  a 
headlong  race.  And  when  Fadette  and  Mr.  Erie  drew 
bridle  at  the  skirt  of  woodland,  lest  the  near  trampling  of 
hoofs  should  alarm  the  household,  the  hundiback  stood  to 
meet  them  there. 

He  advanced  close  to  Fadette,  as  she  still  sat  upon  her 


284  BAXBOLPR  IIOXOR. 

horse,  and  she  put  forth  her  hand  to  steady  herself  hy  his 
shoulder,  while  she  should  spring  to  the  ground.  But 
Ruthven  Erie,  his  brows  slightly  contracted,  anticipated 
her  by  laying  a  light  hold  on  either  shoulder  of  the  intruder, 
wheeling  him  unceremoniously,  yet  gently,  out  of  the  way, 
and  himself  rendeiing  the  assistance  required. 

She  looked  up  at  him  somewhat  reproachfully  when  she 
had  accepted  it. 

"  Even  my  Leo  would  not  have  liked  to  be  thus  thrust 
aside  and  superseded,"  she  said,  in  a  low  tone. 

"And  in  this  our  hour  of  parting,"  he  rejoined,  bitterly, 
"  you  would  repel  from  me  such  service  as  you  would  wil- 
lingly receive  from  your  dog  or  from  your  'innocent.' " 

"  I^ow  you  know  you  are  unjust.  But  I  have  sometimes 
believed  that  j^oor  creature  loved  me  even  more  intelli- 
gently than  Leo.  And  by  the  way,  where  can  Leo  be  ?  I 
thought  he  must  have  followed  you,  since  he  has  not  been 
seen  since  yesterday  morning." 

This  was  added  as,  putting  her  arm  through  the  bridle 
of  the  horse  she  had  ridden,  she  now  walked  onward  toward 
the  garden-gate  before  the  house.  But  the  hunchback,  who 
the  while  had  remained  motionless  where  Ruthven  Erie 
had  placed  him,  furtively  watching  the  two  who  began  to 
move  on  together,  suddenly  followed,  and  touched  a  fold 
of  Fadette's  dress.  She  turned,  and  saw  that  hy  his  un- 
couth signs  and  gestures  he  was  striving  to  induce  her  to 
go  no  further,  but  rather  to  return  to  the  covert  of  the 
wood. 

She  smiled  upon  him,  yet  shook  her  head.  But  when 
he  still  persisted,  and  caught  at  the  bridle  in  her  hand,  she 
drew  it  from  him  in  some  annoyance.  ^ 

"He  is  so  strange  this  morning,"  she  said,  appealing  to 
Mr.  Erie.  "  And  last  night  he  acted  in  the  same  manner. 
It  is  so  vexatious  !" 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  2?5 

Rutliven  stopped  at  her  words,  with  the  intention  of 
putting  an  end  to  conduct  which  disturbed  her.  But  the 
impediment  was  now  directly  in  his  own  path,  renewing 
the  same  signs,  though  this  time  with  less  of  entreaty  than 
command. 

Ruthven  instantly  collared  him  and  swung  him  aside 
roughly. 

"You  have  humored  him  until  he  is  unbearable,"  he 
said,  in  hot  anger,  striding  on  without  further  notice  of 
Fadette. 

In  truth,  the  object  upon  w^hich  his  anger  thus  was 
wreaked,  had  very  little  to  do  with  its  cause.  The  strict 
self-rule  Fadette  had  reassumed,  so  like  to  cold  indiffer- 
ence, was  as  a  rankling  arrow  in  his  wounded  soul,  on 
which  the  heavy  blow  of  this  last  parting  was  ready  to  fall. 
For  he  had  resolved  during  that  long  and  almost  silent 
ride,  that  this  should  be  the  final  farewell — that  his  aunt's 
affairs  being  once  more  arranged,  as  he  yet  saw  a  way  to 
do,  he  would  never  again  enter  under  her  roof  until  Fa- 
dette was  there  no  longer.  His  presence,  he  said  within 
himself,  brought  back  to  her  a  passing  feeling,  a  phantom 
from  the  past,  he  dared  not  wish  should  linger.  Not  for 
an  instant  did  he  believe  that  the  emotion  he  had  seen  was 
but  the  shadow  of  a  fast-abiding  love,  pent  up  from  sight. 
Two  days  ago,  when  he  had  met  her  first  upon  the  prairie's 
edge,  she  was  so  blooming  and  so  bright,  he  could  not  see 
how  that  unhappy  shade  had  overcast  the  whole  horizon. 

They  walked  on  silently  together  in  the  fair  sweet  light 
of  dawn.  He  never  glanced  down  on  her,  nor  she  upward 
to  his  face.  For  her  tears  were  yet  welling  beneath  the 
down-dropped  lids,  and  she  was  striving  still  to  drive  them 
back  to  their  surging  source. 

The  hunchback,  thrust  in  scorn  from  out  her  path  and 
his,  stood  looking  on   them   both.      At  the  fii*st,  a  fury 


286  RAyDOLPH  UOXOR. 

of  hatred  and  revenge  had  flashed  forth  from  his  orer- 
sliadowed  eyes,  and  with  clenched  hand  he  had  made  one 
quick  step  forward.  Xow,  however,  he  stopped  short,  al- 
though the  sinister  gleam  burnt  ever  more  and  more  fiercely, 
and  more  like  the  tiger's  glare  before  he  springs.  There 
was  a  glitter  of  white  teeth  through  the  dense  black  beard, 
as  he  muttered,  in  tones  that  might  have  fitted  to  a  curse : 

"  Fool  I  Fool,  and  blind  !  You  icill^  then,  give  me  my 
revenge  I" 

And  he  turned,  and  j^lunged  again  into  the  lingenng 
dusk  of  the  forest. 

Meantime,  those  two  had  entered  in  the  garden-gate,  had 
wound  through  all  those  grassy  walks  where  straggling 
roses  flung  their  boughs  across,  and  now  paused  on  the 
portico. 

Ruthven  Erie  held  out  his  hand,  as  Fadette  would  have 
tapped  at  the  door  for  entrance. 

"  Have  you  forgiven  my  hasty  words  ?"  he  asked. 

"Ah,  Mr.  Erie,  the  hasty  words  were  nothing.  The 
hasty  action  —  that  harmless,  friendless,  pitiable  crea- 
ture—" 

How  this  trembling  pity,  this  downcast,  hesitating  re- 
proof, became  the  dewy  lashes,  and  the  delicately-curved 
red  mouth !  Only  because  he  loosed  his  hold  of  the  slender 
fingers,  with  their  pleading,  deprecating  touch,  he  could 
put  away  the  mad  desire  to  press  them  to  his  lips,  to  breathe 
against  their  whiteness  wild  beseechings,  the  utterance  of 
which  would  dishonor  him  and  her. 

"  You  will  bring  my  papers  to  me  here,"  he  said,  moving 
abruptly  from  her  side. 

"  Oh,  but  surely  you  ydW  not  go  away  directly  ?  You 
will  stay  for  a  cup  of  coflTee  before  the  ride  you  have  to 
take  ?  There  is  no  danger,  surely  !  You  consent  ?  Then 
I  run  away  to  call  my  aunt  and  Matoaca ;  and,  by-the-by, 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  287 

I  will  gain  admittance  more  readily  in  Mammy's  own  pre- 
cincts, of  course." 

She  flitted  gayly  round  the  house,  forgetting  the  fatiguing, 
sleepless,  stormy  night,  in  the  flush  and  triumph  of  suc- 
cess. 

The  servant  was  on  the  watch  for  her,  and,  indeed,  ac- 
knowledged that  her  watch  was  not  unshared.  For  she 
had  been  so  "  disturved"  by  her  young  lady's  proceeding, 
that  she  had  confided  all  to  Miss  Matoaca,  who  had  been 
walking  up  and  down  her  room  all  night,  pale  as  a  ghost 
Mammy  had  once  seen  trailing  all  in  white  among  the  cot- 
ton-bolls one  morning  long  ago  at  sun-up,  when — 

But  Fadette  cut  short  the  seer  with  an  order  for  break- 
fast, and  went  up  to  her  room.  Upon  the  stairs  she  met 
Matoaca  descending,  and  felt  herself  taken  into  a  long, 
close,  silent  embrace. 

She  stood  where  she  was  released,  looking  down  upon 
her  friend,  a  strange  pang  in  her  heart,  and  that  glorious 

"  beauty  hurting  like  the  light 
Let  suddenly  on  sick  eyelids." 

And,  holding  by  the  baluster,  she  almost  groped  her  dizzy, 
weary  way  up  to  her  chamber,  listening  involuntarily  for 
Matoaca's  voice  that  greeted  Ruthven  Erie. 

Her  toilet  finished,  w^ith  strong  disapproval  she  surveyed 
her  pale  face  in  the  glass,  then  tried  to  brighten  it  by  a 
rose-ribbon  at  the  throat,  which  again  she  tossed  disdain- 
fully aside.  She  had  reached  the  door,  when  she  remem- 
bered she  had  not  knelt  for  evening  or  for  morning  prayer, 
though  many  a  terrified  cry  had  gone  up  from  her  heart 
through  that  wild  gallop  in  the  night.  So  she  sank  upon 
her  knees  before  the  open  window,  as  her  wont  was — the 
window  at  which  she  had  kept  that  fearful  vigil  not  so 
many  hoijrs  ago. 


288  BANDOLPH  HONOR. 

Her  orlance  roved  over  the  scene  before  her,  ere  she  folded 
her  hands  in  prayer.  The  freshness  of  the  dawning  m'BS 
on  all.  Through  the  faint  gray  shades  and  fleecy  clouds 
there  hovered  rosy  flushes,  like  the  touches  of  a  blessing 
seraph-hand  ;  and  as  if  that  hand  had  left  unbarred  the  celes- 
tial gates,  through  which  poured  a  glory  in  the  east,  a  breath 
so  pure,  so  elevating,  fluttered  there  A\'ithout.  It  rustled 
downward  in  the  lindens,  shook  out  dews  and  fragrance 
from  the  roses,  died  away,  then  came  again  in  fuller  sweep 
across  the  prairie's  deepening  gold.  She  listened.  The 
whispering  quiver  of  the  leaves ;  the  twitter  of  the  birds 
just  waking  in  their  nests ;  the  far-off  surge  of  deep,  ripe 
prauie-grasses.  Yet  another  sound — of  flying  hoof-beats, 
far  and  farther,  ever  farther  in  the  distance. 

That  distance  was  too  great  to  betray  the  rider  in  his 
uniform  of  blue.  Fadette  had  not  beheld  him  creeping 
stealthily  from  his  post  in  the  memorable  barn-loft,  which 
at  the  foot  of  the  lawn  commanded  a  view  of  the  house. 
Had  she  beheld,  how  much  that  glimpse  might  have  made 
clear  !  Thought  might  have  reverted  to  last  night's  watch, 
and  found  an  explanation  of  the  hunchback's  furtive  ap- 
proach, of  his  deterring  when  she  would  have  crossed  the 
lawn.  And  his  mysterious  demeanor  on  the  forest's  edge 
this  morning — must  she  not  have  discerned  method  in 
that? 

On  that  one  glimpse  hung  all  the  future.  And  the  spy, 
unseen,  rode  at  full  gallop  to  his  camp. 

Nevertheless, 
"  As  at  the  tramp  of  a  horse's  hoof  on  the  turf  of  the  prairie, 

Far  in  advance  are  closed  the  leaves  of  the  shrinking  mimosa, 

So  at  the  hoof-beats  of  fate,  with  sad  forebodings  of  evil, 

Shrinks  and  closes  the  heart,  ere  the  stroke  of  doom  has  attained  it." 

And  it  regained  finnness  only  when  she  had  lifted  it  to 
the  temple-dome  above. 


BANDOLPII  IIOXOR.  289 

"When  Fiidette  entered  the-^ining-room,  it  was  with  the 
noiseless  gliding  step  peculiar  to  her,  and  she  observed  no 
one  within.  Pausing  by  the  small  round  table  set  for  the 
two  who  had  need  of  a  hurried  breakfast,  she  busied  her- 
self in  arranging  the  vase  of  roses  she  had  gathered,  that 
the  eye  at  least  might  be  satisfied,  if  the  palate  should  find 
the  mornincj's  meal  a  meao-re  one. 

She  had  bent  her  head  to  inhale  one  last  deep  breath  of 
fragrance,  before  going  her  way  to  hasten  or  perhaps  assist 
in  breakfast.  Just  then  low  tones  reached  her  ear.  Slie 
started,  and  advanced  a  step,  thus  gaining  a  view  of  the 
bow-window  opening  on  the  lawn.  There  stood  Matoaca 
and  Ruthven  Erie — he  looking  down  upon  her  with  a 
proud  and  well-pleased  smile  of  triumph,  she  blushing, 
timid,  shrinking,  and  confused,  as  Fadette  could  never  have 
dreamed  of  seeing  the  stately  self-possessed  Miss  Yaughan. 
The  beautiful  lips  were  quivering  forth  two  or  three  inco- 
herent words,  so  subduedly  that  they  failed  to  reach 
Fadette,  when  Ruthven  suddenly  raised  to  his  lips  the 
hand  just  laid  on  his — that  slender  delicate  white  hand,  of 
curves  so  firm  and  clear,  whose  light  nnliligering  touch 
seemed  right  royally  to  honor,  and  where  Fadette's  ad- 
miring glance  had  often  been  bestowed,  to  the  ntter 
scorning  of  the  childlike  dimples  and  proportions  of  her 
own. 

But  Ruthven  Erie  was  thinking  of  that  tiniest  hand's 
frank  childlike  yielding,  which  though  it  always  so  soon 
flitted  from  his  clasp,  was  wont  to  hover  over  trivial 
things — a  flower,  or — yes,  even  a  pretty  ribbon  or  a 
trinket — with  a  sense  of  pleasure  in  the  contact.  The  one 
was  formed  imperially  to  guide,  uphold,  and  warn — per- 
haps, at  sorest  need,  to  comfort :  the  other,  to  guide  and 
to  uphold  by  the  shy  reminder  of  its  own  dependence,  by 
the  beating  of  its  pulses  high  and  fast  and  bravely  for  the 

^3 


290  RAyDOLPII  IIOXOR, 

right,  and  to  bring  comfort  in  its  own  soft  nestling  seeking 
for  it. 

Bnt  while  Ruthven  Erie  was  thus  comparing,  Fadette, 
in  no  soft  mood,  with  flashing  eyes  and  crimson  scornful 
lips,  had  drawn  back  in  the  intent  to  leave  the  room  as 
unobserved  as  she  had  entered.  Unfortunately  for  her 
desire,  however,  she  stayed  first  to  place  the  vase  in  the 
centre  of  the  table,  and,  unsteady  w^th  anger,  she  set  it 
down,  not  lightly  as  she  would  have  wished,  but  with  a 
clear  ring  of  the  bright  Bohemian  resounding  through  tlie 
still  apartment. 

Her  impulse  was  precipitate  retreat.  But  there  was  a 
movement  in  the  bow-window,  and  she  resolved  to  stand 
her  ground.  When  Mr.  Erie  came  forward,  she  met  him 
with  a  casual  greeting,  as  if  she  had  that  moment  entered. 
A  rustling  through  that  window^  opening  to  tlie  piazza,  and 
a  light  firm  tread  without,  advised  her  that  Matoaca  was 
gone. 

She  was  far  too  indignant  to  feel  embarrassment.  Wliile 
she  seated  herself,  idly  toying  with  the  flowers,  a  hot 
rebellion  flushed  her  drooping  lace,  as  one  furtive  glance 
beheld  his  resting  on  her,  with  a  gloAV  of  pleasure  in  the 
resting.  So,  she  scofled,  he  had  but  now  looked  on 
]Matoaca — so  he  once  had  looked  on  Amy — and  ah,  the 
old,  old  rhyme : 

"  The  moon  looks 
On  many  brooks." 

But  here  at  least  the  tale  shall  vary — here  is  one  brook 
that  will  still  refuse  that  upward  gazing  at  the  moon. 
Better  deep  dark  shadows  over  all  her  course,  than  that 
uncertain  radiance. 

In  unison  with  this  decision,  she  remained  in  seeming 
oblivion  of  his  presence.     He  waited  in  silence,'  until,  her 


BANDOLPn  HONOR.  291 

anger  waxing  somewhat  fainter,   embarrassment  asserted 
itself,  and  she  roused  her  spirits  to  banish  it. 

" '  Under  which  king,  Lancaster  or  York,'  are  you,  Mr. 
Erie  ?"  she  cried  gayly,  singling  out  a  white  and  a  crimson 
blossom,  and  laying  them  before  him. 

lie  at  once  caught  her  allusion  to  that  first  evening  of 
their  meeting  in  Charleston,  so  nearly  a  renconter  vi  et 
armis.  And  he  smiled  and  took  both  flowers,  fastening 
them  in  the  cord  of  black  and  gold  around  his  hat. 

"  Chevalier  sans  peivr  et  sans  reproche^''\\^  said,  touching 
first  the  red  and  then  the  white.  "  National  colors,  were 
there  but  another  red,  in  sign  that  courage  is  van  and  rear- 
guard of  innocence." 

She  pushed  the  vase  toward  him,  and  said  carelessly, 
seeming  not  to  notice  that  the  flowers  remained  undis- 
turbed : 

"  How  very  prudent  to  show  your  colors  thus  !  You  are 
right — in  these  irreverent  times  even  the  White  Plume  of 
Navarre  might  pass  for  a  mere  white  feather,  if  not  duly 
labelled.  And  labelled  U.  S.  A.,  according  to  the  Xorthern 
papers.  They*  put  ns  down  in  a  wofully  demoraliz(>d 
plight.  I  was  much  shocked  the  other  day  to  read  that 
before  Atlanta  a  doughty  gunner  with  this  brand  had,  with 
one  grim  coup  (Poeil  and  a  single  wave  of  feathery  smoke, 
routed  a  whole  victorious  brigade  !  Do  we  emulate  such 
deeds  in  battle  and  in  print  ? 

" '  Iliaeos  intra  muros  peceatur  et  extra.''  "  Fadette  put 
up  her  hands  deprecatingly — "  '  Not  understand  ?'  I  am 
fortunate,  then,  for  you  never  would  concede  courage — or, 
for  the  rhyme's  sake, 

*  Nul  n'aura  de  I'esprit 
Hors  nous  et  nos  amis,' 

And,  indeed,  quite  setting  aside  your  faith  in  Southern  papers 


232  RANDOLPH  IIOXOR. 

and  'the  chivalry,'  it  is  in  the  natural  order  of  thin^js  that 
the  one  should  be  more  truthful,  as  the  other  more  darings 
striking  for  all  they  hold  most  dear,  and  forming  an  army 
whose  mainstay  is  patriotism,  since  they  have  little  of  the 
staff  of  life  to  lean  upon.  For  the  crowning  triumph  of 
such  troops  I  would  not  know  one  fear,  were  it  not  that, 
unpaid,  or  paid  in  currency  that  sinks  in  value,  they  can  do 
little  or  nothing  for  their  women  and  children  ;  and  it  is  the 
enemy's  wise  policy  to  leave  a  wilderness  behind  in  his 
march.  For  us,  we  have  so  long  been  used  to  arm,  and 
clothe,  and  feed  our  columns  from  the  northern  commis- 
sariat, that  our  ragged,  barefooted  boys  have  been  looking 
forward  to  this  Missouri  expedition,  much  as  you  might 
anticipate  a  day  of  shopping  in  St.  Louis." 

"  Still  so  severed  from  beyond  the  Mississippi  ?" 

"  Still.  Last  winter  a  regiment  of  Louisiana  cavalry  was 
ordered  into  Chicot  to  cross  arms,  which  they  accomplished 
by  night  in  flats  and  dug-outs,  boxes,  planks — paddling 
over  on  every  available  thing  which  might  be  hoped  to 
float.  A  wary  gunboat  shelled  from  a  respectful  distance, 
but  the  bitterly  cold  weather,  such  as  has  not  been  known 
there  for  twenty  years,  was  a  greater  foe.  The  spray  froze 
upon  the  men's  hands  as  they  rowed,  and  more  than  one 
poor  fellow  was  lifted  on  shore  almost  insensible." 

"  So  the  tide  of  war  has  drifted  Chicotward,"  Fadette 
commented. 

"  A  somewhat  stronger  tide  than  that  which  bore  those 
arms  across.  What,  have  you  then  not  heard  of  Chicot's 
great  battle  ?  Is  it  to  go  down  to  the  future  unknoAvn  ? 
Had  it  been  Tecum seh  Landing,  where  brave  Shelbjntes 
cut  off  to  a  man  their  number  of  marauding  Corps  d'Afrique, 
and  won  the  sword  of  a  Colonel  Cocke,  who  crew  much 
like  a  craven — that,  indeed,  I  might  have  borne.  But  a 
battle  in  which  I  trusted  I  mvself  had  won  some  laurels — 


hakdolpii  honor.  293 

that  shall  be  historical !  Are  you  ignorant  that  Ditch 
Bayou,  against  which  you  were  wont  to  declaim  as  an  in- 
terruption to  the  county,  served  as  an  interruption  to  Gen. 
A.  J.  Smith,  and — " 

"  Stay !"  cried  Fadette ;  "  I  understand  it  now.  It  is 
the  battle  of  "  Dutch"  Bayou,  where  A.  J.  Smith  drove 
you  flying  to  the  canebrake.  You,  whose  forces  so  out- 
numbered his,  that  it  was  believed  at  first  Magruder  had 
led  all  headquarters  there.  You,  who  lost  in  killed  and 
wounded  many  more  than  Smith's  three  hundred,  and  of 
whom  so  many  prisoners  were  captured  in  Lake  Village." 

Buthven  laughed. 

"  Have  faith  in  the  three  hundred,"  he  replied.  "  That 
number  tallies  with  the  accounts,  of  one  of  their  own  sur- 
geons, and  of  our  spies.  But,  for  our  part,  take  our  own 
testimony ;  seven  was  the  number  of  our  slain.  You  are 
surprised  at  the  disparity?  Had  we  lost  three  hundred, 
there  would  have  been  a  handful,  indeed,  to  drive  into  the 
canebrake.  But  we  were  admirably  posted  on  the  higher 
bank  of  th^  bayou,  toward  the  village ;  the  enemy  being 
forced  to  charge  up  the  steep,  while  our  guns — their  own, 
which  we  had  captured  a  month  or  two  before — poured  a 
raking  fire  on  the  ranks  swept  forward  line  by  line  to  meet 
us.  We  held  our  position  from  morning  until  evening,  un- 
shaken. And  when  we  did  retreat,  having  delayed  Gen. 
Smith  during  thirty-six  hours,  we  drew  back  slowly,  skir- 
mishing still,  along  those  five  miles  to  the  village,  and  thence 
a  short  distance  to  the  rear,  while  the  enemy  did  not  at- 
tempt pursuit  beyond  the  village.  Our  train — of  blue,  and 
marked  U.  S. — was  driven  leisurely  from  danger.  Our 
general  and  staff,  in  this  headlong  canebrake  flight,  having 
been  in  the  front  of  the  battle,  now  rode  on  slowly  in  the 
rear,  staying  to  wave  farewell  to  a  bevy  of  damsels,  who,  too 
excited  for  alarm,  still  lingered  on  the  gallery,  though  the 


294  RAXDOLPH  lIOyOR. 

blue-coats  were  in  full  view,  and  in  anotlier  second  a  warn- 
inic  bullet  struck  a  tree  near  by.  Miss  Charlie  Goodfellow — 
you  will  readily  believe  she  was  the  last  who  stood  upon 
that  gallery — had  numbered  at  her  w^atch  over  five  thou- 
sand soldiers,  when  she  w^as  cut  short  by  the  entrance  of  a 
squad  to  pillage.  She  is  convinced  there  were  several 
thousand  remaining  unnoted." 

"  And  what  became  of  you  ?" 

"  It  might  have  been  said  that  Chicot 

'  Saw  another  sight 
When  the  drums  beat  at  dead  of  night/ 

but  that  the  rainy  day  was  followed  by  darkness  impene- 
trable. Our  guides  lost  the  way,  and  we  did  not  emerge 
from  our  canebrake  until  morning,  when  our  skinnishers 
follow^ed  Smith's  forces  to  the  river,  making  some  captures, 
and  we  returned  in  quiet  to  our  former  camp.  But  Smith 
left  his  sign-manual  on  the  dismantled  houses  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  on  the  ashes  of  Columbia,  near  which  he  re- 
entered his  boats.  And  now  what  think  you  of  the  Battle 
of  Lake  Chicot?" 

Fadette's  lips  parted  to  give  expression  to  the  warm 
interest  she  had  been  feeling.  But  the  remembrance  of  the 
moon  and  the  brooks  came  first.  And  she  said  inditfer- 
ently — 

"  Oh,  the  Thermopylae  of  the  West,  of  course.  And  you 
were  the  Leonidas." 

And  she  was  still  refusino-  to  look  up,  both  figuratively 
and  literally,  he  standing  before  her,  listening  to  her  cave- 
less  speech,  when  Mrs.  Rutledge  entered,  followed  by  the 
old  servant  with  a  breakfast-waiter.  Mrs.  Rutledge  had 
already  seen  her  nephew,  so  in  silence  still  she  advanced 
behind  Fadette's  chair.  The  young  girl  was  first  made 
awai-e  of  her  presence  by  a  hand  that  softly  and  lingeringly 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  295 

smoothed  back  the  dusky  braids.  As  it  stayed,  Fadette'^ 
stole  up  too,  with  a  timid  fluttering  touch.  Tears  of  grate- 
ful joy  rushed  to  her  eyes,  not  falling,  only  shining  there. 
And  the  aunt  passed  on  to  her  place  at  the  head  of  the 
table,  smiling  on  Ruthven  Erie,  in  a  way  that  entered 
boldly  into  his  confidence,  while  it  approved  and  encour- 
aixed.  His  thoughts  went  back  on  the  instant  to  that  first 
Avinter  in  Charleston  and  at  Beauregard.  Then  she  had 
viewed  coldly  and  doubtfully  his  every  attention  to  the 
young  stranger.  Her  smile  now  but  deepened  the  gloom 
that  brooded  in  his  eyes.  He  received  in  silence  his  cup  of 
frao-rant  coffee,  and  the  low-toned  remark  with  it,  wliich 
Mammy  ventured  in  this  unceremonious  breakfast  to  com- 
municate with  a  profound  courtesy  —  that  though  Mars' 
Ruthven  might  remember  he  used  to  like  her  coffee,  yet  it 
w^as  no  showing  to  Missie's  there — only,  poor  little  lamb, 
she  was  too  tired  out  to  make  it  this  morning. 

Lamb  !  and  coffee-maker !  it  was  no  wonder  Ruthven 
Erie  looked  up  quickly  with  that  quizzical  expression  lurk- 
ing about  his  mouth.  And  wdien  Matoaca,  leading  in  the 
two  children,  who,  both  fair  and  fresh  and  blooming, 
dressed  alike  in  white,  might  readily  have  appeared,  as 
they  called  each  other,  sisters — when  she  added  a  pane- 
gyric upon  Fadette's  genius  for  light-bread  and  for  butter, 
for  vegetable-gardening,  and — and — Fadette  cut  short  the 
catalogue,  with  a  merry  laugh,  in  which  her  troubles  van- 
ished for  the  time. 

"Now,  Mammy,  the  omelette — *  solid  pudding  against 
empty  praise' — you  will  find  it  a  wise  exchange,  Mr.  Erie. 
What  is  it,  little  Maisie  ?  Sugar  ?  There,  see  what  a  great 
piece  fast  in  each  wee  fist !  But  tell  me,  Matoaca,  did  not 
one  of  your  '  ands'  represent  the  broom  ?  What  a  mercy 
you  were  not  here  last  week,  Mr.  Erie,  when  on  an  emer- 
gency I  undertook   to  institute   a  sweeping-day  !      Pip's 


296  RANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

sister  *  on  the  rampage'  resolved  to  '  sweep  all  obnoxious 
intruders  away,'  is  but  a  mild  rendering  of  that  expe- 
rience." 

"  And  oh,  Cousin  Ru',"  cried  Janet,  in  her  childish  eager- 
ness to  unfold  all  the  wonders  of  the  past,  "  we  were  all  so 
hungry  once — so  hungry  ! — only  our  cousin  would  not  let 
us  tell  mamma.  But  cousin  did  not  get  hungry  herself — 
wasn't  that  strange  ?" 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  the  cousin  interrupted  gayly,  while  the 
color  mounted  to  her  brow,  "  we  were  once  actually  at 
starvation  point — almost  reduced  to  that  dire  extremity 
which  Masie's  great  song  relates," 

The  child,  leaning  against  Fadette,  glanced  round  at 
these  words,  and  with  a  merry  expression  on  her  bright 
little  rose-bud  face,  defiant  of  "  sister  Janet's"  growing  in- 
dignation, half  sang,  half  chanted,  in  the  wild  monotony  of 
a  negro  air,  taught  by  Mammy  herself: 

"  Mammy  done  kill  me. 
Birdie  done  eat  me. 
Poor  little  sister  sitting  un'  table, 
Pecking  my  bo — ones — 
Pecking  my  bo — ones." 

Fadette  glanced  at  Ruthven  Erie,  and  the  association 
with  this  last  word  struck  them  simultaneously.  Their 
laughter  was  explained  by  an  allusion  to  the  Knight  of  the 
Spur,  and  the  Sol  of  Chivalry. 

But  Ruthven's  smile  soon  passed  away. 

"  A  brave  man,"  he  said. 

"  '  A  very  valiant  trencherman,'  as  I  remember,"  laughed 
Fadette. 

But  Ruthven  returned,  gravely : 

"  *  Within  him,  what  all  that's  without  him  belies, 


RANDOLPH  nOKOR.  297 

The  fool  that  last  year  at  her  Majesty's  ball 
Sickened  me  sd  with  his  simper  of  pride, 

Is  the  hero  now  heard  of,  the  first  on  the  wall, 
With  the  bayonet  wound  in  his  side.'  " 

"  What,  you  do  not  mean  in  truth,  Mr.  Erie  ?'* 

"  He  fell,  Miss  Matoaca,  in  the  battle  of  Jenkins'  Ferry. 
A  year  ago,  he  found  his  weary  way  home  from  the 
trenches  of  Petersburg,  discharged  as  unfit  for  duty,  and 
to  all  appearance  dying  from  a  wound  in  the  lungs.  Char- 
ley's devoted  nursing  prolonged  his  life  from  month  to 
month,  and  when  Steele  marched  toward  Camden  last 
April,  Goodfellow  was  so  far  recovered,  that  he  immedi- 
ately announced  his  resolve  to  volunteer  under  Price.  To 
his  sister's  faint  dissuasion,  he  replied  that  his  course  was 
well-nigh  run  out  now,  and  since  she  must  mourn  him,  he 
had  rather  she  mourned  him  buried  on  the  field  of  honor. 
So  he  joined  our  own  gallant  First  Brigade,  after  due  de- 
liberation as  to  where  his  services  and  military  knowledge 
would  be  most  beneficial.  It  was,  perhaps,  scarcely  com- 
plimentary to  our  ability  to  stand  alone,  that  he  at  length 
selected  us— albeit  he  stated,  as  his  reason  for  so  doing, 
that  under  our  general  he  could  not  fail  to  see  fight." 

"  And  he  was  killed,  poor  felloAV  !"  Fadette  said,  softly. 

"  He  was  killed.  Just  when  the  tide  of  battle  wavered — 
just  before  the  final  hour  which  left  us  masters  of  a  glorious 
field — while  yet  ^\Q  waded  painfully  through  blood-stained 
mire,  nor  stood  firmly  on  the  road  to  victory.  He  fell  at 
my  side,  waving  the  flag  caught  up  from  a  wounded  color- 
bearer,  shouting  a  cheer  which  our  gallant  fellows  rang 
back.  I  bent  above  him  as  the  fight  swept  by.  The  hue 
of  death  and  its  rigidity  were  on  his  face,  and  it  was  with 
failing  breath  he  gasped ;  '  The  flag  !  the  flag  !— yes,  take 
it— But  if  I  might  but  have  borne  it  to  the  end— might  but 
l^ave   led   this   charge — secured   the   victory — and  then — ' 


298  BANBOLPH  HOXOR. 

It  was  over.  Those  were  the  words  of  a  commander  whose 
eye  could  nerve  a  legion,  whose  right  arm  control  it.  They 
were  spoken  by  an  obscure  private,  uncouth,  uninfluential, 
vain — unconscious  butt  of  all  his  comrades.  But,  begun  in 
death  and  ended  in  a  prayer  in  Paradise — gasped  out  to 
the  plashing  of  the  life-blood — they  sounded  in  my  ear  sub- 
lime self-dedication,  and  sealed  a  martyr-testimony  to  the 
cause." 

Fadette  had  bowed  her  brow  upon  her  hand  to  hide  the 
tears  that  slowly  fell. 

"  And  Charley  ?"  said  Matoaca,  her  dark  eyes  beautiful 
with  light. 

"  Charley  came  to  the  grave  of  her  brother,  whom  his 
comrades  had  laid  reverently  at  the  foot  of  a  great  oak, 
where  the  gray  moss  trailed  over  a  rude  cross  on  which 
were  cut  the  words,  '  The  flag — if  I  might  but  have  borne 
it  to  the  end !"  Charley  knelt  there  for  a  space,  and  laid 
her  cheek  against  those  letters,  her  eyes  uplifted  with  a 
strange  intensity  of  gaze.  And  then  she  rose  and  grasped 
my  hand  one  instant,  turned  and  rode  away  toward  home 
again,  speechless  and  tearless,  her  color  burning  high." 

"  And  the  poor  father  ?"  Matoaca  asked  again. 

It  was  some  moments  before  Mr.  Erie  replied,  and  tlien 
only  on  Miss  Vaughan's  reiteration  of  her  question. 

"That  hospitable,  cheerful  home  is  altogether  desolate. 
Had  the  elder  brother  not  died  thus  in  battle,  he  must  have 
perished  far  more  fearfully.  A  raid  of  white  and  negro 
troops  went  out  upon  the  bayou  some  weeks  after,  and 
when  they  had  returned  again  to  their  boajts,  a  neighbor 
passing  by  our  friend's  plantation  saw  the  house  in  flames, 
and  on  approaching,  at  the  gate  there  lay  a  charred  and 
blackened  corpse,  the  heart  torn  out  and  smouldering  in 
the  ashes  that  shrouded  the  body.  Xear  by,  lay  the 
mutilated   boy,   and   beside   her   dead   crouched   Charley, 


EANDOLPII  UOyOR  209 

hardly-  livinj:^  more  than  tliey.  She  never  left  them  till  they 
were  laid  together  in  the  last  resting-plaee,  and  then  she 
suifered  herself  to  be  led  away  by  a  neighbor,  at  whose 
house  she  retired  quietly  to  rest.  But  the  next  morning 
she  was  gone,  and  all  search  for  her  has  since  proved  una- 
vailinsT.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  since  her  valuables  and 
money,  of  which  she  had  no  little,  also  disappeared,  that 
she  had  simply  resolved  to  leave  a  vicinage  so  dread  with 
memories.  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  she  is  still  laboring  for 
the  cause  in  some  far-oif  retreat.  The  last  her  kind  friend 
saw -of  her  that  night,  she  was  kneeling  calmly  at  her 
prayers." 

There  was  a  long  pause.  Mr.  Erie  had  told  his  tale  re- 
luctantly, continuing  only  at  Miss  Yaughan's  urgent  sign 
in  every  pause,  and  at  Mrs.  Eutledge's  earnest  "  Go  on, 
Kuthven."  And  now  Mrs.  Rutledge  had  passed  out  on 
the  piazza,  ostensibly  to  watch  the  children  at  play  upon 
the  lawn,  and  Matoaca  sat  there  so  pale  and  still,  he  could 
not  but  believe,  as  he  had  feared,  that  her  thoughts  had 
gone  back  to  that  ghastly  night  at  Sleepy  Hollow.  He  re- 
garded Fadette  anxiously.  Her  tear-stained  face  was 
partly  shaded  from  him.  She  made  a  strong  effort  to  throw 
off  her  depression,  questioning  cheerfully  of  friends  he  had 
already  casually  mentioned.  Then  Matoaca  drifted  into 
the  conversation  again. 

"  Ruthven,"  Mrs.  Rutledge  said,  re-entering,  "  will  you 
not,  on  your  return  to  Arkansas,  be  again  at  Camden?" 

"  I  do  not  doubt  it.  If  not  ordered  to  headquarters,  will 
probably  be.  able  to  obtain  a  short  furlough.  So  any  word, 
my  dear  aunt,  you  have  for  our  little  Amy,  shall  speedily 
and  safely  be  delivered." 

"  I  cannot  send  messages  of  love  to  my  own  child,"  she 
answered  slowly ;  "but  tell  her  how  well  her  father  bears 
his  prison-life — how  I  am  enabled  to  keep  privation  from 


GOO  RAXDOLPH  HOXOB. 

him — how  constantly  I  am  with  him,  thanks  to  mv  sweet 
little  housekeeper  here — and  that  at  last  I  have  good  hope 
of  his  release.  And,  my  dear  boy,"  she  added  hurriedly, 
as  he  rose  and  buckled  on  his  pistol-belt,  "  do  not  be  rash 
and  reckless — remember  to  how  many  is  your  life  most 
precious." 

She  laid  a  trembling  touch  upon  his  shoulder.  But  he 
did  not  look  at  her  paling  face,  he  did  not  look  at  Matoaca, 
Arhose  tears  were  falling  fast.  He  only  saw  P'adette,  who, 
because  she  could  not  stay  the  quivering  of  her  wrist,  had 
laid  down  on  the  table  the  packet  of  papers  for  which  he  was 
holding  out  his  hand,  and  who  dropped  hers  clenched  at 
her  side  in  the  folds  of  her  dress.  The  knowledge  of  his 
observation  brought  the  color  to  her  cheek,  and  she  mani- 
fested so  little  of  that  regret  which,  vain  as  it  would  have 
been,  he  still  could  not  but  yearn  for,  that  he  turned  away 
with  a  smothered  sigh,  and  took  up  his  papers. 

"  I  have  a  considerable  sum  of  money  to  deposit  for 
you,"  he  was  saying  to  Mrs.  Rutledge — "  and,  as  I  am  not 
obliged  to  rejoin  my  command  for  some  days  yet,  I  shall 
have  occasion,  while  still  upon  recruiting  duty,  to  place  it 
in  the  same  hands  which — " 

A  shrill  childish  scream  broke  in  upon  his  words.  The 
two  little  girls  came  flying  into  the  room  from  their  play 
upon  the  lawn. 

"  Oh,  3Iamma,  Mamma,  soldiers  !"  shrieked  Janet. 

And  Maisie,  in  the  contagion  of  terror,  though  scarcely 
comprehending,  fled  sobl)ing  to  Matoaca. 

The  ladies  started  forward,  while  Mr.  Erie,  drawing  a 
pistol  from  his  belt,  quietly  demanded  where. 

"  Right  at  the  gate.  Mars'  Ruthven — a  mighty  heap  on 
'em,"  replied  the  old  servant,  who  now  rushed  in,  well- 
nigh  blanched  with  fear. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Erie,  come,  come — "  Fadette  began  eagerly. 


BANDOLPH  HONOR.  301 

"It  is  too  late,"  Mrs.  Rutledge  said,  moving  from  tho 
window — "  They  are  here,  Ruthven — the  house  seems  sur- 
rounded.    "What  can  be  done  ?" 

Already,  as  she  was  speaking,  he  had  closed  and  locked 
the  door.  And  now  he  drew  in  and  bolted  the  shutters  of 
one  window,  while  Fadette  and  Matoaca  sprang  to  the 
others,  leaving  thus  but  one  means  of  ingress — the  bow- 
window  opening  on  the  piazza. 

"  Leave  me  now,"  he  said.  "  Of  course  there  is  no  escape 
for  me,  but  I  must  at  all  hazards  destroy  these  papers  be- 
fore surrendering.  Leave  me — do  not  remain  near,  for 
I  may  be  forced  to  defend  mj^self,  and  cannot,  you  at 
hand." 

Matoaca  stood  irresolute.  Mrs.  Rutledge,  deathly  pallid, 
shook  her  head  and  clasped  his  arm  as  if  determined  not  to 
go.  But  he  with  gentle  authority  loosed  her  hold,  and  led 
her  to  the  door,  then  moved  to  let  Matoaca  pass  out.  As 
Fadette,  white  and  quivering,  followed  without  looking  up, 
he  extended  his  hand.  Hers  trembled  in  his  grasp,  as  her 
voice,  faltering 

"  Ah,  let  me  stay !" 

"  I  cannot." 

And  she  too  was  gone. 

Hardly  an  instant,  when  armed  men  surrounded  the  win- 
dow. An  officer  advanced  and  called  upon  him  to  surren- 
der. 

Ruthven  Erie  came  forward,  coolly  and  calmly,  pistol  in 
hand. 

"Sir,"  he  said,  "in  ten  minutes  I  surrender,  provided 
you  grant  me  that  space  of  time,  while  no  one  enters  this 
room.  Surround  it  as  you  will — there  is  no  escape,  and  I 
pledge  my  honor  to  attempt  none.  But  try  to  take  me  by 
force,  and  I  am  a  desperate  man.  I  have  the  advantage  o{ 
you  in  this  shelter,  I  am  armed  with  two  six-shooters,  and  I 


302  RAKDOLPU  HOXOB. 

seldom  miss  my  aim.  See — "  and  raising  his  arm  with 
apparent  carelessness,  a  sharp  report  followed,  and  a  swal- 
low twittering  downward  toward  an  oak  across  the  lawn, 
fell  in  one  death-flutter  to  the  ground. 

The  men  retreated  a  few^  paces  involuntarily.  The 
glances  which  had  followed  the  bird's  fate,  were  now  all 
turned  on  him.  Some  two  or  three  w^ould  have  pressed 
foi*ward,  but  their  captain  hesitated,  and  gave  no  word  of 
command.  And,  quite  setting  aside  all  possible  motives  of 
the  prisoner,  it  seemed  a  lavishness  of  courage,  to  risk  half 
a  score  of  lives  for  a  matter  of  as  many  moments.  Such  a 
murmur  rose  along  the  foremost  file,  and  the  officer  drew 
apart  with  several  of  his  men  in  consultation. 

That  Ruthven  Erie's  undaunted  demeanor,  the  cool, 
keen,  steady  resolution  in  his  fearless  eyes,  promoted  that 
murmur  equally  with  his  ready  shot,  is  undeniable.  He 
was  standing  meanwhile  in  the  entrance-way,  with  folded 
arms,  yet  warily  watching  his  besiegers'  every  movement. 

The  council  of  war  resulted  presently  in  the  dispersal  of 
half  the  soldiers  to  guard  the  door  and  the  other  windows, 
w^hile  a  squad  of  fifteen  or  twenty  yet  remained  investing 
this  one. 

As  soon  as  tbis  change  was  made,  Erie  withdrew  from 
view,  and  began  his  task.  Several  passages  in  his  papers 
he  deliberately  read  over,  to  impress  them  further  on  his 
memory,  and  then  he  tore  them  one  and  all  in  fragments  so 
small,  that  a  match  hastily  struck  and  catching  here  and 
there  soon  made  them  undistinguishable.  And  before  the 
stipulated  moments  had  elapsed,  he  appeared  once  more 
upon  the  threshold. 

"  With  these,"  he  said,  quietly  delivering  his  weapons  to 
the  officer,  "  with  these  I  should  have  attempted  escape, 
had  it  not  been  for  papers  which  must  have  fallen  into  your 
power,  had  you  killed  me.     Take  the  pistols — they  have 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  303 

seen  some  service  since  they  were  borrowed  from  you  at 
Manassas." 

But  tlie  prisoner  was  not  to  be  marched  off  without  a 
farewell  word. 

Mrs.  Rutledge  and  Matoaca  pressed  forward  through  the 
guard,  the  latter  weeping  silently,  the  other  sternly  self- 
controlled,  though  her  lips  but  quivered  when  she  would 
have  spoken. 

Another  glided  noiselessly  from  the  recess  in  the  wall 
beside  the  bow-window,  where  all  this  while  she  had 
crouched,  breathless,  like  a  frightened  deer  in  covert. 

No  one  saw  her  at  the  first,  and  she  listened  for  her  own 
name.  But  he  was  going  without  a  thought  of  or  for  her. 
He  was  speaking  to  Matoaca.  And  now —  But  she  must, 
she  would  have  the  last  word.  Only,  he  should  not  think 
she  cared — not  she  !  So  she  pressed  her  palms  vehemently 
on  her  white  cheeks,  to  force  a  ray  of  color  there,  and 
smoothed  the  line  of  trouble  from  her  brow.  And  then 
she  advanced,  and  said  in  an  unshaken  voice  how  sorry  she 
was — how  she  hoped  and  trusted  he  would  ere  long  be 
exchanged. 

He  checked  the  "  scarcely  possible"  in  the  utterance,  and 
half  questioned  instead : 

"  You  will,  however,  sometimes  send  a  thought  even  to 
the  prison  ?"  • 

The  smile  that  curled  her  lips  was  very  far  from  her  eyes, 
and  the  light  tone  in  which  she  answered  him  had  more  of 
forced  flippancy  than  gayety : 

"  Need  you  ask  ?  When  I  am  quarrelsome,  shall  I  not 
wish  for  you,  as  of  old,  to  quarrel  with?  when  I  am  sad, 
to  make  merry  Avith  ?  Shall  not  the  name  of  dancing  recall 
the  champion  of  the  doughty  spur — and — " 

"  Every  breakfast-table,  batter-cake  strategy,"  he  inter- 
posed, smiling  perhaps  somewhat  bitterly,  as  he  once  more 


804  RANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

shook  hands  with  her.  And  exchanging  another  hasty 
farewell  with  Mrs.  Rut  ledge,  he  was  marched  off  without 
the  garden-gate,  where  the  horses  were  secured. 

But  his  captors  had  no  idea  of  resting  content  with  one 
Confederate,  trophy  of  war.  With  the  exception  of  the 
guard,  all  were  speedily  in  the  house.  For  sacking  was 
the  order  of  the  day. 

Before  the  lower  story  had  been  ransacked,  Fadette  flew 
ujD  stairs  to  her  aunt's  chamber,  remembering  a  certain 
purse  of  gold  which  Mrs.  Rutledge  had  probably  not  had 
time  to  secure.  This  she  concealed  about  her.  And  after 
making  a  hasty  tour  through  the  apartments,  hiding  what 
Gould  be  hidden  on  the  spur  of  the  moment,  she  went  down 
again. 

"  Confusion  worse  confounded."  Carpets  cut,  and 
strewn  with  the  combined  contents  of  the  store-room — 
piano  shattered — furniture  broken.  Men  carrying  meat 
dripping  with  blood  through  the  hall,  and  there  on  the 
piazza,  tied  to  a  column,  a  calf,  quartered  aliye,  was  strug- 
gling and  moaning  out  the  death-throe  as  Fadette  passed 
by. 

Sickened  with  the  sight  and^  the  stifling  atmosphere, 
she  hurried  on.  Plunder,  plunder,  eyerywhere.  Mrs. 
Rutledge,  with  Janet  clinging  fast  to  her  dress,  and  Ma- 
toaca  with  Maisie  in  her  arms,  were  making  almost  yain 
efforts  to  saye  something. 

"  Miss  Janet,  Miss  Janet !"  now  screamed  old  Mammy, 
leaning  oyer  the  balusters  up  stairs,  "  some — gentlemen — 
here,  a-breaking  open  your  great  chest." 

Fadette  glanced  into  the  library,  and  seeing  her  aunt  en- 
gaged there,  hastily  ran  up. 

But  the  great  chest  was  already  broken  open,  and 
Mammy  in  despair. 

"  Oh,"  she  whispered,  drawing  near  to  Fadette,  "Mistis 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  305 

told  me  she  left  her  purse  in  her  room,  and  sent  me  for  it, 
but  it's  gone." 

Fadette  shook  her  head,  and  smiled. 

A  soldier  standing  unobserved  without  the  doorway,  saw 
the  gesture,  and  took  his  clue  from  it. 

"  Look  a-here,  young  woman,"  he  said,  roughly  grasping 
Fadette's  shoulder,  "  what  have  you  been  hiding  ?  Be- 
cause you  had  just  as  well  out  with  it.  You  ain't  going  to 
get  off  without." 

Fadette  shook  off  his  touch,  and  looked  at  him,  the  hot 
blood  rushing  to  her  face. 

"  What  have  I  been  hiding  ?"  she  said — "  A  great  many 
things ;  but  it  seems  they  are  being  found  fast  enough. 
"What  will  you  have  ?  Walk  in  and  help  yourself.  All 
this  is  confiscated  property." 

"Xever  you  fear  but  I'll  help  myself,"  the  man  re- 
joined. "  Look  a-here.  Bill" — and  he  beckoned  to  a  com- 
rade, who  had  just  finished  cutting  from  its  frame  Mr.  Rut- 
ledge's  portrait,  painted  by  a  prison  friend,  and  who  now 
obeyed  the  summons,  rolling  up  the  canvas  and  bestowing 
it  under  his  arm.  "  Bill,  I've  a  notion,"  he  continued,  as 
that  art-loving  worthy  came  up — "  that  this  here  girl's  got 
some  money  or  jewelry,  or  what  not,  hid  about  her.  Let's 
have  it." 

"  Well,  let's." 

"  Will  you  give  it  up  pleasant,  now  ?"  the  first  said  in- 
sinuatingly, as  if  nothing  in  the  world  could  be  more  agree- 
able than  such  a  request. 

Fadette,  amused  at  his  cool  impertinence,  slightly  smiled, 
replying — 

"  It  is  a  thousand  pities,  Sir,  that  I  cannot  oblige  you. 
My  last  dollar,  and  jewelry  too,  have  but  now  disappeared 
from  that  bureau.  You  see,  the  drawers,  or  what  once 
were  drawers,  are  empty." 


306  RAXDOLPII  HOXOR. 

"  Come  now,  that  won't  go  down  with  us — better  shell 
out,  and  no  words — " 

"  But  I  assure  you  that  is  the  truth." 

"  Lots  of  assurance,"  Bill  suggested.  "  Come,  shell 
out" — and  he  caught  her  dress. 

Fadette  with  the  strength  of  terror  wrenched  away,  and 
fled  toward  the  door.  But  the  other  man  stepped  between 
and  slammed  it,  after  summarily  bestowing  a  kick  and  a 
curse  upon  the  servant  outside,  who  made  a  precipitate 
flight,  screaming,  to  her  mistress. 

INIeanwhile  his  fellow-ruflian  had  seized  and  flung  Fa- 
dette violently  upon  the  floor.  And  partly  by  her  arm, 
partly  with  his  grasp  wound  in  her  long  black  hair,  wliich 
had  fallen  down  in  the  struggle,  he  had  dragged  her  across 
the  room,  before  she  could  find  voice  to  speak  or  to  cry  out, 
— he  the  while  declaring,  Avith  awful  oaths,  that  he  would 
have  the  money — would  get  it  himself,  as^she  would  not 
give  it  up. 

"  Let  me  go — let  me  go,"  she  gasped  faintly  ;  "  I'll 
give  you  all,  all,  if  you  will  only  let  me  go." 

He  released  her.  The  two  stood  by,  swearing  frightfully, 
while  she  rose  to  her  feet,  trembling  so  that  she  could  with 
difliculty  draw  the  purse  from  its  concealment.  And  fling- 
ing it  to  the  further  end  of  the  room,  with  one  bound  she 
gained  the  stairway,  and  almost  flung  herself  down  into  the 
hall,  where  her  aunt  and  Matoaca,  with  one  little  inoffen- 
sive-looking soldier,  were  hastening  to  her  assistance.  She 
had  rightly  conjectured  that  the  precious  purse  would  not 
be  left  in  order  to  pursue  her. 

Half  an  hour  after,  and  the  homeless  group  were  standing 
on  the  lawn.  Flames  burst  forth  from  windows,  doors,  and 
roof  of  the  house,  fired  in  every  apartment.  Volumes  of 
smoke  blackened  the  sunlight.     The  atmosphere  grew  so 


RANDOLPH  nOXOR.  307 

oppressive  that  Mrs.  Riitledge  was  moving  off,  when  her 
little  girl,  leaving  her  hand,  darted  forward. 

"  Pussy,  pussy  !"  she  cried. 

And  the  kitten,  disconsolately  mewing  around  her  lost 
home,  at  the  sound  of  that  familiar  voice  approached, 
purring  with  delight.  A  soldier  standing  near,  turned  too. 
With  one  swoop  of  his  bayonet,  he  transfixed  the  tiny 
creature,  and  held  it  howling  over  the  flames. 

"  You  bad  man — you  wicked,  wicked  man  !"  screamed 
the  child,  trembling  with  frantic  grief.  Then,  as  he  tossed 
the  animal  in  at  the  blazing  window,  and  scowled  at  her, 
she  fled  to  her  mother's  side,  burying  her  face  in  her  dress, 
and  sobbing  out — 

"  Take  me  away,  take  me  away.  Mamma.  Let's  go  in  a 
turkey-trot  too — I  am  so  afraid." 

The  mother  clasped  the  poor  child  tenderly,  and  drew 
her  away,  with  the  desolate  household,  from  the  dense  air 
of  the  burnins^  buildinsrs.  For  now  barn  and  stable  were 
on  fire  too. 

Ruthven  Erie  was  still  at  the  gate,  pacing  restlessly  to  * 
and  fro  before  his  guards,  his  arms  secured  behind  him. 
He  turned  aside  on  seeing  Mrs.  Rutledge.     But  she  ad- 
vanced, and  putting  Janet  down,  laid  both  hands  on  his 
shoulders,  forcing  him  to  meet  her. 

"  What  is  it,  Ruthven,  but  a  little  money !"  she  said. 
*'  We  will  take  refuge  with  a  neighbor  until  we  can  arrange 
another  home." 

"  Promise  me,"  he  said,  "  that  it  shall  be  where  you  are 
no  longer  subject  to  the  incursions  of  these  devils.  I  have 
brought  this  upon  you." 

"  But  you  did  your  duty — you  must  not  regret  that." 

He  was  silent,  then  resumed  hurriedly :  "  That  shriek 
from  the  house  maddened  me.     I  knocked  down  one  of  the 


308  RANDOLPH  HOXOB. 

guard,  aud  would  have  gone  to  your  assistance,  but  tbey 
bound  me,  thus — "  and  he  moved  his  fettered  arms,  clenching 
his  teeth  in  furious  anger. 

"  My  poor  boy  I"  she  said  soothingly. 

Fadette  had  seldom  seen  her  face  so  soften. 

"  Come,  Sir."  A  soldier  touched  him  on  the  shoulder. 
They  were  all  mounting. 

Mrs.  Rutledge  clung  to  him,  speechless.  Matoaca  laid 
her  hand  upon  his  arm,  whispering  something,  while  her 
tears  fell  fast.  Janet  raised  her  rosy  mouth,  smiling  in 
childish  forgetfulness  of  recent  tears. 

And  Fadette  stood  apart.  He  glanced  at  her,  and  said 
huskily — 

"  Have  you,  then,  not  even  a  farewell  for  me  ?" 

All  her  pride,  all  her  composure,  broke  down  utterly. 
She  came  and  stood  before  him,  not  daring  to  meet  his 
eyes.  He  looked  steadily  into  her  downcast  face.  And 
then  he  bent,  and  touched  her  forehead  with  his  lips. 

She  remained  there  as  if  turned  to  stone,  while  he  too 
mounted.  When  the  hoof-beats,  muffled  in  the  deep  grass, 
grew  more  distant,  she  mechanically  moved  to  follow  her 
aunt. 

Mrs.  Rutledge  and  Matoaca  did  not  hear  her  slow  step 
on  the  lawn.     They  were  speaking  earnestly. 

"  Ruthven  Erie  is  a  fool—" 

"Mrs.  Rutledge!" 

"  I  say  he  is  a  fool !"  reiterated  the  elder  lady  still  more 
angrily.  "  Is  he  not  wasting  his  love,  his  whole  life,  on  a 
girl  who  cares  nothing  for  him — a  flirt — a  heartless — " 

Fadette  heard  no  more.  She  turned  hurriedly  away, 
among  the  shrubbery.  Her  aunt's  words,  or  what  Matoaca 
might  say,  had  scarcely  place  one  moment  in  her  mind. 

Benumbed  and  passionless,  she  sank  upon  the  sward 
beneath  the  roses,  her  head  bowed  on  her  knee.     She  did 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  309 

not  think,  she  did  not  feci,  she  did  not  know  how  long  a 
time  had  passed.     When  some  one  touched  her  shoulder. 

With  a  violent  start,  she  looked  up.  It  was  the  hunch- 
back. She  rose,  pressing  her  cold  palm  confusedly  upon 
her  forehead.  The  movement  seemed  to  bring  back  to  her 
memory  all  the  changes  of  that  day.  Pushing  aside  the 
branches,  she  saw  where  Mrs.  Rutledge,  Matoaca,  the  ser- 
vant, and  even  the  children,  were  busied  in  packing  to- 
gether the  few. articles  they  had  saved.  The  little  ones' 
innocent  laughter  as  they  played  at  being  useful,  dragging 
to  and  fro  some  burden  larger  than  themselves,  grated  on 
Fadette's  ear,  but  roused  her  more  effectually.  And  shel- 
terless as  they  were,  and  distant  from  all  neighbors,  she 
remembered  the  hunchback's  cave  as  a  refuge  for  one  night. 

Its  master  accompanied  the  melancholy  party  thither. 
Silently  he  kindled  a  fire  within,  silently  brought  forward 
food  and  set  before  them.  Markedly  as  he  had  always 
sought  Fadette  before,  he  now  shrank  from  her.  But  the 
poor  girl  noted  nothing  of  this.  The  haven  reached,  she 
had  sunk  down  almost  unconscious  as  before,  deaf  to  all 
attempts  of  Mrs.  Rutledge  and  Matoaca  to  rouse  her,  and 
unobservant  that  very  soon  the  hunchback  had  left  the 
cavern  to  its  new  inhabitants. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

THE    HUNCHBACK. 

"  Time  driveth  onward  fast» 
And  in  a  little  while  oar  lips  are  dumb. 
Let  us  alone.    What  is  it  that  will  last  ? 
All  things  are  taken  from  ns,  and  become 
Portions  and  parcels  of  the  dreadful  Past." 

Lotos-Eaters. 


)HE  Stillness  of  deep  slumber  wrapped  the  cave.  The 
long  night  had  passed  heavily  away.  Toward 
dawn  the  restless  watchers,  overworn,  had  with- 
drawn to  the  couch  of  shawls  and  blankets  spread  for  tliem 
and  the  little  ones  by  the  faithful  servant  who  had  long 
since  taken  her  place  at  its  foot.  Fadette  alone  remained 
beside  the  fire  sunk  to  embers.  And  even  she,  exhausted 
by  those  sleepless  nights  and  the  past  day's  excitement, 
had  fallen  into  a  light  doze,  her  head  droojied  back  against 
the  piled-up  relics  of  Prairie-Combe,  brought  hither  by  old 
Dobbin  and  his  sledge. 

Between  the  rocky  crevices  above,  the  morning  sun  crept 
in,  in  straggling  rays  which  did  not  waver  toward  the  deep 
recesses  of  the  cavern.  So  that  still  a  hush  and  darkness, 
as  of  midnight,  hung  there.  Only  through  the  silence  came 
a  movement  of  the  slumberers,  whom  sense  of  trouble  yet 
kept  restless ;  and  an  occasional  low-drawn  moaning  from 
Fadette's  pale  lips.  For  through  her  dreams  did  Ruthven 
Erie,  bound  and  dragged  away,  turn  on  her  a  reproachful 
glance. 


RANDOLril  HONOR.  311 

She  stirred  and  moaned  again,  when  through  the  narrow 
entrance  near,  marked  only  by  a  line  of  deeper  obscurity, 
there  came  a  sound ;  at  first  it  was  indistinct,  as  of  the 
grating  of  the  boughs,  then  clear  and  clearer,  of  approach- 
ing footsteps. 

The  next  instant,  Ruthven  Erie  stood  at  her  side. 

He  bent  above  the  sleeping  girl.  Even  as  he  bent,  a 
painful  quiver  passed  across  her  mouth,  and  she  moved  her 
head  from  side  to  side  uneasily.  Her  lips  parted  with  a 
mm-mur,  and  involuntarily  he  stooped  lower  yet  to  catch 
the  wail : 

"Oh,  Ruthven,  Ruthven,  not  one  word?  You  cannot 
then  forgive  ?     And  I— I—" 

The  rest  was  lost  in  incoherent  sounds.  His  arm  was 
stretched  forth,  as  if  he  would  have  drawn  her  to  him.  A 
strange  deep  tenderness  had  softened  all  his  face.  But 
suddenly  he  lifted  himself  up,  and  crossed  his  arms  upon 
his  breast. 

"  My  God  !  I  cannot  speak  that  word.  My  only  love,  I 
cannot  claim  you.     I  must  let  you  go  forever." 

This  suppressed  mutter  forced  itself  through  his  stern-set 
lips.  And  the  hunchback,  who  had  guided  him  hither,  lin- 
gering at  the  entrance,  released  his  unconscious  clutch  upon 
a  pistol  hidden  in  his  belt,  and  quietly  advanced  to  the  fire, 
with  an  armful  of  brushwood. 

But  his  step  roused  Fadette.  Her  eyes  opened  full  on 
Ruthven  Erie,  at  first  dreamily,  anon  in  a  wild  incredulous 
stare.  She  raised  herself  slowly,  still  never  removing  her 
eyes,  as  if  she  strove  to  keep  a  vision  that  might  vanish 
with  a  turn,  as  dreams  are  wont.  And  standing  shivering 
from  head  to  foot  before  him,  she  put  her  hand  out  wist- 
fully. 

lie  made  her  lean  against  him,  for  he  saw  this  excite- 
ment was  more  than  her  over-taxed  strengtli  could  bear, 


312  BAXDOLPH  HONOR. 

and  that  she  must  have  fallen  unsupported.  And  she 
looked  up  to  him,  Avhile  the  color  slowly  came  into  her 
face. 

"  Xo  spirit,  in  good  truth,"  he  answered  lightly  to  the 
astonished  questioning  of  that  glance.  "  And  have  I 
frightened  you  ?  What,  trembling  still  ?  Now,  will  you 
have  the  history  of  my  escape  ?" 

For  she  had  withdrawn  herself,  and  resumed  her  seat  be- 
fore the  fire.  He  took  his  upon  the  Prairie-Combe  debris 
beside,  and  began,  as  she  at  length  found  voice  to  beg : 

"  Strange,  is  it  not,  that  by  means  of  friends  of  yours,  I 
should  t's\'ice  have  been  delivered  from  imprisonment — this 
time  probably  from  that  narrower,  darker  ^orison-house,  the 
grave.  Yes,  your  innocent  there" — the  hunchback  was  at 
that  moment  on  one  knee  before  the  fire,  fronting  the 
speakers,  heaping  up  the  boughs  that  blazed  and  crackled 
merrily  away — "  might  seem  to  have  had  somewhat  of  the 
serpent's  wisdom,  or  of  that  instinct  and  cunning  which 
in  such  creatures  fills,  oftentimes  amply  enough,  the  place 
of  wisdom." 

He  lowered  his  voice,  as  the  subject  of  his  remarks,  still 
bending  there,  folded  his  arms  across  his  breast,  his  head 
dropped  forward  as  if  in  meditation,  while  beneath  the 
shelter  of  his  slouched  hat,  his  gaze  seemed  fixed  upon  the 
flames. 

Fadette  smiled. 

"  Xay,  he  hears  as  if  he  heard  nothing,"  she  said.  "  Fre- 
quently as  he  has  been  with  me,  he  has  never  given  sign  of 
comprehension  other  than  dear  old  Leo  might.  By  the 
way,  is  it  not  strange  that  Leo  has  not  been  seen  since  that 
night  you  came  to  Prairie-Combe  ?" 

"  I  saw  Leo  in  the  Federal  camp,  leashed  against  escape. 
Perhaps  your  hunchback  had  tracked  him  there — at  all 
events,  he  came,  and  the  two  greatly  amused  the  soldiers. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  313 

though  neither  quite  entered  into  the  amusement,  Leo 
showing  his  white  teeth,  and  your  ally  here  a  dangerous 
gleam  in  his  eyes.  I  alone  observed  that,  however.  And 
after  they  had  been  made  the  sport  of  an  hour,  so  amicable 
were  the  relations,  that  when  the  poor  wretch  crept  near 
me,  he  was  left  to  sleep  there.  I  knew  little  slumber,  but 
awaking  from  a  doze  in  the  dead  of  the  night,  felt  some- 
thing close  against  me,  and  in  the  dim  light  discerned  my 
neighbor.  As  he  caught  my  eye  he  began  to  gibber  and 
to  point,  yet  all  in  silence ;  and  I  watched  and  found  he 
was  engaged  in  cutting  the  cords  that  bound  me.  I  raised 
myself  upon  my  elbow,  prepared  for  the  knife's  next  on- 
slaught on  my  throat,  for  your  2^^'otege  has  always  seemed 
to  bear  me  '  unco  little  luve.'  Whether  my  observance  dis- 
concerted him,  or  he  had  not  entertained  such  murderous 
design,  be  that  as  it  may,  he  presently  betook  himself  to 
rest.  But  no  clear-scheming  consj^irator  could  more  deftly 
have  contrived  my  escape.  The  cords  were  severed  so,  that 
while  the  outside  still  appeared  intact,  one  putting  forth 
of  my  strength  would  leave  me  free,  a  very  Samson.  And 
w^hen  at  earliest  dawn  this  morning  we  were  marshalled 
under  marching-orders,  and  I,  bound  so  apparently  fast, 
w^as  mounted  between  my  guards,  I  suddenly  snatched  the 
carbine  from  my  right-hand  man,  felled  him  to  the  ground, 
and  was  off  before  any  one  had  recovered  from  the  con- 
fusion sufficiently  to  pursue  me.  This  poor  creature  had 
leaped  upon  the  captain's  horse  which  he  was  holding,  and 
so  after  me.  At  the  verge  of  the  prairie,  I  halted  and  or- 
dered him  back  threateningly,  loth  with  such  a-  companion 
to  risk  my  safety  in  the  precarious  way  before  me.  But  I 
soon  saw  he  was  not  thus  to  be  driven  aw^ay.  I  could  not 
use  violence  to  one  w^ho  but  now  had  saved  me.  There 
w^as  no  time  to  lose,  for  I  heard  the  pursuers  in  the  dis- 
tance, though  an  opportune  grove  hid  me.     So  I  dashed  at 

14 


314  BANDOLPH  HONOR. 

once  into  these  woods  along  the  mountain-side.  Soon  I 
perceived  he  was  bent  upon  leading  the  way.  And  reflecting 
that  he  was  wont  to  linger  near  you,  I  determined  to  yield 
to  his  guidance,  as  my  purpose  was  not  to  leave  the  vicinity 
^vithout  news  of  you. 

"  Leo,  when  I  first  looked  back,  I  saw  forcibly  restrained 
from  following.  But  so  noble  an  animal  is  sure  of  kindly 
treatment,  and  beyond  a  doubt  he  will  soon  win  his  way  to 
you.  This  evening  I  shall  venture  forth  to  spy  out  the 
country.  If  you  can  be  content  to  wait  here  until  then,  as  I 
have  reason  to  believe  my  morning's  hosts  will  be  many 
miles  away,  I  shall  myself  have  the  pleasure  of  escorting 
you  with  old  Dobbin  and  the  sledge,  probably  remaining 
unconfiscated,  to  your  old  friend  Mr.  Thome's.  He  will 
see  you  at  length  settled  in  St.  Louis,  now  perhaps  safer 
than  elsewhere.  There,  shall  be  another  fund  for  your  care, 
manager,  mine. " 

"  Where  have  you  fallen  upon  a  gold  mine,  Fortunatus  ?" 

"  Fair  Incredulity,  in  Texas,  that  land  flowing  with  milk 
and  money.  You  know  that  upon  your  leaving  Beauregard 
I  established  all  the  Rutledge  negroes  upon  a  cotton- 
plantation  in  that  State.  Last  year's  crop  was  sold  to 
Government  for  the  Mexican  trade  in  army  supplies.  Thus 
you  have  again  that  enough  which  is  as  good  as  a  feast — of 
which,  however,  you  must  very  carefully  gather  up  the 
fragments^  for  Texas  crops  are  proverbially  uncertain,  great 
droughts  succeeding  a  year  of  plenty.  However,  there  is 
every  probability  that  your  uncle  will  be  released  before 
your  present  funds  run  low." 

"  And  how  are  the  servants  doing  in  Texas,  Mr.  Erie — 
Uncle  Washington  and  the  rest  ?" 

"  Washington  has  made  his  five  hundred  in  gold.  Xegro 
patches  outthrive  the  plantation  iields ;  and  as  for  their 
poultry-yard,  its  thousand  or  two  voices  call  the  morning 


RANDOLPE  HONOR  315 

from  such  a  distance,  tliat  I  am  satisfied  the  sun  cannot  but 
first  present  himself  there.  Still,  they  await  anxiously  the 
close  of  the  war,  to  return  to  the  old  Carolina  home.  Not 
at  all  demoralized — their  gunboat  experience  being  very 
useful,  and  Washington's  influence  great." 

"And  Irene?" 

"  Still  with  Amy.  Always  inquiring  for  '  her  own  young 
mistis.' " 

"  Ah,  Mr.  Erie,  is  not  Amy's  lot  a  sad  one  ?" 

"  But  she  is  very  hopeful,  sees  a  happy  peace  never  far 
off,  and  thinks  this  separation  can  be  at  most  a  few  months 
longer." 

"  Ah  !  but  I  did  not  mean  that,  which  time  will  remedy. 
But  Mr.  Weir's  loss—" 

"Surely  you  do  not  mean  that  could  occasion  real  un- 
happiness  ?" 

She  blushed  crimson  under  his  surprised  scrutiny. 

"I  do,"  she  said  courageously,  though  the  long  lashes 
drooped  upon  her  cheek.  "  I  cannot  imagine  mutilation 
so  separated  from  pity,  as  perfect  love  must  be.  It  seems 
reversing  the  order  of  things  for  a  man  to  lean  on  a  woman, 
though  ever  so.  little — " 

"  Then  it  is  the  clothing  of  the  spirit,  and  not  the  spirit, 
which  must  have  the  strength  you  admire  ?" 

"I  am  afraid  I  could  not  make  the  distinction,"  she  said, 
ashamed  of  her  feeling,  yet  too  honest  to  disavow  it. 
"And  Mr.  Weir,  so  pale  and  shattered,  is  scarcely  the 
handsome  dashing  bridegroom  I  first  saw.  But  I  won't 
have  you  think  me  weaker  than  I  am.  If  " — her  voice  shook 
a  little  in  embarrassment — "  if  I — if  Amy  had  been  engaged, 
not  married,  and  he  had  come  to  her  mutilated — aye, 
even  as  fearfully  deformed  as  my  friend  and  Leo's  there — 
I  would  have  held  her  bound,  and  doubly  bound,  to  keep 
her  faith.     And  even  if  her  love  had  been  less  than  true 


316  BAXDOLPII  UOXOR. 

love  is,  I  well  believe  her  womanhood  could  find  a  sweet- 
ness in  its  self-devotion.  But  I  think  the  love  could  hardly 
be  the  same." 

" '  To  know  thyself  is  the  true  wisdom,'  "  Ruthven  Erie 
ironically  said,  looking  down  with  an  amused  expression  on 
the  fairy  who  thus  declared  for  the  thornless  roses  of  this 
world,  while  she  daily  stooped  to  weed  the  briers  from  the 
path  of  others. 

But  upon  another  listener  her  speech  fell  differently. 

"Leo's  friend,"  still  in  the  same  position,  had  fixed  a 
furtive  gaze  upon  her  as  she  spoke.  His  dark  face  darkened 
more  and  more  at  every  word.  Only  once  a  passing  gleam 
flashed  over  it,  with  a  flush  of  crimson.  And  a  hasty 
gesture  escaped  him,  as  if  he  would  have  reached  forth  a 
hand  to  her.  She  was  saying,  "I  would  have  held  her 
bound,  and  doubly  bound,  to  keep  her  faith" — "  a  sweetness 
in  its  self-devotion." 

But  no  one  cared  to  cast  one  glance  his  way.  Fadette 
had  raised  her  eyes  deprecatingly  to  Ruthven  with  a  timid 
appeal  to  his  indulgence.  Ruthven  met  them  with  a  long 
full  gaze  of  tenderness.  And  the  hunchback's  arm  fell 
heavily  to  his  side.  He  moved  apart,  and  took  his  station 
at  the  entrance. 

Day  was  wearing  on  to  evening,  almost  unvarying  in  the 
cavern.  Ruthven  Erie  had  been  abroad  to  reconnoitre,  and 
had  reason  to  believe  it  hardly  yet  was  safe  to  venture 
forth.  The  circle  round  the  fire  was  cheerful  enough,  and 
the  hunchback  still  kept  watch  apart. 

Suddenly  in  the  distance,  faint  and  far,  just  creeping 
through  the  covert,  came  the  baying  of  a  dog.  The  hunch- 
back alone  heard.  Stealthily  and  unperceived  he  left  the 
cave,  and  passed  on  where  the  entrance  opened  to  the  twi- 
light air.     He  listened.     Aye,  the  baying  still — and  it  was 


nAynoLPii  honor  317 

Loo^s,  lie  distinguished  plainly.  But  another  sound  was 
mingled  with  it.  Near  and  nearer,  up  the  rocks,  and 
througli  the  tangled  underwood,  there  came  the  ringing  fall 
of  horses'  hoofs — the  clash  of  arms  against  the  overhanging 
boughs  across  the  way.  Leo,  faithful  Leo,  leading  on  the 
enemy  to  this  last  shelter. 

The  listener  paused  one  moment,  hesitating. 

"  A  life  for  a  life  !"  he  muttered  between  his  teeth.  "  It 
shall  be  so,  since  she — she  loves  him !  Yet,  O  Fadette,  if 
you  but  knew — " 

The  words  were  stifled  with  the  thought.  He  thrust 
aside  the  bushes  hastily,  sprang  down  the  crag,  and. flung 
liimself  from  clifl"  to  thicket,  rock,  and  scaur,  in  headlong 
haste  to  meet  the  still  approaching  sound.  A  clear  shrill 
wdiistle,  and  the  dog  had  at  a  bound  leaped  on  his  friend, 
in  frantic  joy. 

With  one  firm  grasp  upon  the  collar  of  the  animal,  he 
stood  to  meet  the  horsemen  who  dashed  up. 

"  On  the  right  track  at  last !"  the  foremost  cried,  wdth  a 
ringing  halloo  to  the  comrades  in  his  rear.  "  The  dog  has 
found  his  idiot  master,  and  wall  quickly  ferret  out  the 
camp  itself.  Out  of  the  way  there  !"  he  shouted  to  the 
hunchback. 

But  the  latter  made  no  motion  to  give  w^ay.  He  merely 
raised  his  right  hand,  and  removed  the  hat  which  he  had 
heretofore  so  closely  worn.  The  soldier  halted  and  sur- 
veyed him  curiously. 

A  broad  white  scar  crossed  the  straight  forehead,  and 
seamed  the  right  cheek  to  the  dense  black  beard.  The 
dark  eyes  fixed  themselves  upon  the  soldiers  riding  up,  with 
a  cool  steadiness  most  strangely  unlike  the  wavering  of  an 
idiot.  He  w^aited  till  the  tumult  knew  an  instant's  lull, 
and  every  gaze  was  on  him.  Then  he  s^^oke  in  clear, 
deliberate  tones : 


318  BAXDOLPn  IIOXOR. 

"  So !  You  stare  in  doubt  upon  each  otlier.  You  are 
right — the  idiot  is  gone.  You  look  aghast.  Do  you  re- 
member how  often,  to  make  a  mockery  of  him,  you  have 
dragged  him  to  your  camp,  until  he  has  heard  your  plans, 
and  seen  your  strength  and  weakness?  Many  an  ambush 
of  the  outlawed  rebels  he  has  decoyed  you  into.  Many  a 
shot  among  them  he  has  had  at  you,  and  head  and  hands 
has  been  to  them  for  months  and  months.  But" — he  added 
with  a  rapid  change  of  tone,  perceiving  that  the  first  pause 
of  astonishment  was  giving  way  to  fury,  and  that  many  a 
brow  was  threateningly  knit,  and  many  a  grasp  clenched 
A'ehemently  upon  sword  and  pistol — "but  those  whom  I 
have  seiwed  most  faithfully  heap  on  me  a  bitter  wrong.  At 
this  moment  full  revenge  is  in  my  reach." 

He  stopped  short,  stifling  back  his  agitation. 

The  men  looked  angrily  upon  him.  But  they  only  saw 
corroboration  of  his  story  in  the  darkly  flushing  brow,  the 
laboring  chest,  the  fierce  outlook  as  of  a  hunted  stag  at 
bay.  They  were  blind  to  the  heroic  honor  which  had  sent 
him  forth  thus  to  stand  between  them  and  their  unconscious 
prey.  Stunned  in  the  maddened  conflict  between  baflfled 
love  and  jealousy  and  vengeance,  that  honor  had  yet  roused 
before  it  was  too  late. 

He  resumed  more  calmly : 

"They  have  escaped  you  this  once.  But  bring  me  to 
your  captain,  and  I  can,  to  fill  my  own  revenge,  enable  you 
to  wreak  your  own.  I  alone  can  track  them  to  their  lair. 
What,  you  distrust  me?  There — I  am  unarmed  and  in 
your  power.  You  have  sometimes  followed  blindly  in  my 
way.     I  put  myself  in  yours." 

With  this,  he  laid  his  pistols  on  the  ground,  and  stood 
defenceless  there  among  them.  His  words  were  the  words 
of  a  traitor.  His  eyes  were  filled  with  the  glorious  light  of 
a  martyr.     The  deed  he  spoke  of,  was  a  deed  of  shame. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  319 

His  bearing  had  tliat  proud  nobility  which  checked  the 
taunts  upon  his  captors'  lips,  and  for  a  moment  inspired  a 
respect  oblivious  of  his  deformity.  And  still  he  kept  a 
detaining  hold  on  Leo,  who  was  now  curbed  to  his  control, 
and  followed,  Avhen  between  his  guards  he  was  led  down 
and  so  across  the  prairie,  to  the  distant  village  where  he 
might  betray  his  comrades  to  the  officer  in  command. 

Under  cover  of  that  night,  Ruthven  Erie  led  to  a  friend's 
protecting  roof  the  houseless  wanderers  from  Prairie-Combe, 
And  ere  the  dawn  had  broken,  he  rode  safely  on  his  way  to 
join  the  northward-marching  army  under  Price. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

RANDOLPH    HOXOR. 

'  He  leans  upon  his  hand ;  his  manly  brow 
Consents  to  death,  but  conquers  agony, 
And  his  drooped  head  sinks  gradually  low : 
And  through  his  side,  the  last  drops,  ebbing  slow 
From  the  red  gash,  fall  heavy  one  by  one, 
Like  the  first  of  a  thunder-shower ;  and  now 
The  arena  swims  around  him—"' 

Childe  Harold. 


UXT  JAXET,  I  wish  to  speak  to  you  a  moment." 
Mrs.  Rutledge  looked  up  at  these  words,  uttered 

in  a  calm,  cold,  expressionless  voice.     She  saw  Fa- 

dette  standing  in  the  doorway,  the  very  embodiment  of  her 
tone. 

Matoaca's  work  fell  in  her  lap. 

"  Is  any  thing  the  matter  ?"  she  asked,  anxiously. 

Mrs.  Rutledge  rose  from  her  packing,  for  it  was  the 
second  day  since  they  had  taken  refuge  with  their  friend, 
and  on  the  morrow  they  must  leave  for  a  new  home  in  St. 
Louis.  And  as  she  rose,  Fadette,  as  though  she  had  heard 
nothing,  led  the  way  from  the  room  without  reply. 

At  first  she  had  turned  toward  her  own  chamber,  but  with 
instinctive  longing  for  fresh  air,  she  passed  out  upon  the 
piazza,  and  speechlessly  extended  to  her  aunt  an  open  letter 
which  she  had  held  concealed  in  the  folds  of  her  dress. 
Mrs.  Rutledge  straightened  it  out  slowly,  with  undefined 
apprehension,  and  read : 


I  do  not  know,  Fadette,  if  in  T^-riting  to  you  now,  I  am 


EANDOLPII  HONOR  321 

most  selfish  or  most  generous.  Certain  it  is,  that  when  my 
prison-keepers  granted  my  request,  and  gave  me  pen  and 
paper,  only  a  wild  thirst  for  revenge,  a  will  that  you  your- 
self should  know  some  measure  of  my  wretchedness,  was  in 
my  mind.  For,  Fadette,  through  all  my  doubt  of  you,  and 
all  my  anger,  and  through  all  the  unwitting  tortures  you 
have  heaped  upon  me,  I  have  never  doubted  that,  should 
sorrow  touch  me  nearly,  it  would  bring  a  pang  to  you. 
This  is  my  revenge.  But  wdll  you  not  too  surely  count  it 
for  generosity,  that  I  here  release  you  from  all  promise 
made  to  me  ?  Whether  I  could  ever  have  resolved  to  do 
so — whether  I  could  w^ith  my  free-will  have  foregone  all 
hope  in  life,  I  cannot  tell.  But  death  resolves  for  me.  I 
am  a  prisoner,  and  not  only  a  prisoner,  but  a  condemned 
and  outlawed  guerrilla.  You  know^  then  my  fate.  Tell 
my  brother,  thus  I  fill  the  measure  of  my  duty  to  my  coun- 
try. Living,  I  could  do  her  little  service.  Dead,  I  shall 
have  sealed  in  blood  another  testimony  to  the  right,  and 
joined  the  martyr-ranks  which  make  her  strong.  With 
death  already  at  my  heart,  I  ask  you  to  forgive,  and  to 
think  lovingly  of  one  who  in  life  an4  in  death  is  still  faith- 
fully yours, 

"Lionel  Randolph." 

Mrs.  Rutledge  ended,  and,  much  moved,  gave  it  back 
into  the  hand  extended  for  it. 

"My  poor  child" — she  began,  at  a  loss  how  to  speak 
w^ord  of  comfort  to  that  passionless  face.  But  there 
w^as  no  time  given.  The  pale  lips  parted  in  quiet  utter- 
ance : 

"  I  am  going  to  him  at  once.  Xo,  do  not  forbid  it" — 
as  her  aunt,  looking  doubtful,  would  have  spoken — "  I 
should  be  sorry  to  disobey  you,  but  I  know  that  I  am  right. 
I  have  already  spoken  to  Mr.  Thorne — he  will  go  with  me. 


322  RAyDOLPJI  HOXOR. 

It  is  but  a  day's  journey — I  compelled  his  messenger  to  tell 
me  where." 

"  You  will  wait  for  me,  Mr.  Thonie.  I  must  go  in 
alone,"  Fadette  said  quietly  to  the  old  gentleman,  as  a 
soldier  unbarred  the  door  of  the  inner  guard-room,  where 
was  confined  the  prisoner  she  sought. 

The  door  swung  heavily  open.  She  took  one  step  for- 
ward, and  it  closed  again,  with  ominous  clang,  behind  her. 

Coming,  as  she  did,  from  the  strong  glare  of  noon  with- 
out, the  apartment  in  which  she  found  herself,  lighted  solely 
by  a  grating  above  the  only  entrance,  was  at  first  as  utter 
darkness.  But  presently  through  the  gloom  she  distin- 
guished the  four  walls,  the  dank  stone  floor,  and  a  pallet  at 
the  further  end.  From  this  a  figure  now  slowly  lifted 
itself — then  as  slowly  sank  back.     She  sprang  forward, 

"  Lionel !  Lionel !"  she  cried. 

She  was  at  his  side — an  instant,  and  she  would  have 
flung  herself  upon  her  knees  before  him.  But  she  drew 
back  hurriedly,  astonished.  The  hunchback  "  innocent" 
was  he  who  met  her  view.  Seated  on  the  pallet's  edge,  his 
head  bowed  down  upon  his  hands,  he  never  stirred  at  her 
approach.  She  paused  a  moment  in  bewildemient.  And 
then  there  flashed  a  thought  across  her  mind,  which  deep- 
ened into  a  con^dction.  Lionel  had  made  good  his  escape 
by  means  of  this  poor  creature,  who  could  not  fail  to  be 
released. 

"  Thank  God  !  thank  God !  it  must  be  so  !"  she  cried 
aloud.  And  the  tears,  so  long  pent  up  in  her  benumbed 
heart,  came  in  a  rushing  torrent,  well-nigh  painful  in  its 
sudden  strain  of  joy. 

But  she  checked  her  emotion,  and  conquering  a  shudder 
of  aversion,  placed  her  hand  upon  the  poor  misshapen 
shoulder  before  her.     She  said  urgently,  in  a  commanding 


RANDOLPU  HONOR.  323 

tone,  which  he  had  sometimes  seemed  to  compreliend  in  a 
degree : 

"  lias  he  gone  ?     Did  he  leave  you  here,  and — " 

Her  speech  died  in  a  gasp.  Her  hand  fell  from  his  shoul- 
der. Her  parted  lips  grew  white  with  terror.  She  shrank 
and  trembled  there  before  him,  in  unreasoning  dread,  fear 
of  she  knew  not  what.  For  he  had  raised  his  head  and 
fixed  his  eyes  upon  her,  for  the  first  time  with  a  full,  un- 
shadowed, and  unvarying  gaze. 

No  idiot's — she  felt  at  once. 

He  rose  up,  still  thus  looking  on  her. 

"  Do  you  know^  me  now  at  last,  Fadette  ?"  he  said. 

And  still  she  never  moved,  and  still  -the  dread  grew 
stronger,  ghastlier,  upon  her  face. 

"  Why  have  you  come  ?  I  would  have  died^and  left  you 
ignorant  of  my  death,  but  that  I  wished  to  set  you  free.  I 
could  have  died  more  tranquilly  without  the  pang  of  seeing 
you  again  shrink  from  me  thus — without  the  pang  of  know- 
ing you  must  henceforth  associate  this  maimed,  misshapen 
wretch — " 

"  Oh,  Lionel !"  she  moaned  at  last.  And  she  staggered 
one  step  forward,  and  clasped  his  arm  with  both  her  hands, 
a  wild  beseeching  in  her  lifted  eyes,  from  which  the  tears 
were  dropping  now. 

The  dark  anger  deepened  on  his  brow.  He  would  have 
shaken  her  off,  but  that  she  seemed  so  pale,  so  helpless. 
He  said,  instead : 

"  Hardly  Lionel.  Rather,  an  infatuated  fool,  who — 
struck  from  his  horse  in  battle,  and  flung  headlong  with 
the  dying  brute  far  down  a  fearful  steep — maimed  thus  in 
the  fall — discharged  as  worthless  to  his  country — still 
dreamed  all  life  might  not  be  over,  and  that,  deformed  and 
ghastly  as  he  was,  there  was  still  one — " 

"  Hush,  Lionel,  dear  Lionel,"    she  sobbed.     "  There  is 


324  EAXDOLPH  UOXOR 

still  one.  We  shall  manage  to  free  you  from  this  place, 
and  then — and  then — " 

She  felt  the  bond  of  long-ago,  the  breaking  cords  of 
which  she  now  joined  firmly  thus  together,  closing  about 
her  with  a  pressure  which  almost  suffocated  her.  He  saw 
how  she  breathed  hard  and  struggled  for  composure.  He 
laughed  in  bitter  n|ockery. 

"And  Paithven  Erie  V'  he  said. 

She  quailed  from  his  words  as  if  they  had  been  blows. 
Involuntarily,  she  loosed  her  clasp.  He  went  on,  watching 
in  hot  wrath  her  drooping  varying  face. 

"  As  well  you  did  not  wait  for  misfortune,  which  ends  all 
love,  to  break  off  yours.  What,  you  would  deny  it  ?  Do 
you  not  know,  then,  how  the  contemned  idiot  has  watched? 
how  he  has  lingered  by  you,  though  your  every  ■♦word, 
your  every  smile,  was  sharper  than  the  death-pang  ?  Your 
woman's  way — only  your  innocent  woman's  way — luring 
us  on  with  your  soft  replies,  your  downcast  girlish  glances, 
until: — Well,  you  dearly  love  us,  and  sisterly,  while  we — 
God  have  mercy  on  us  poor  devils,  for  you  have  none." 

Blushing  indignant  crimson,  Fadette  raised  her  head,  and 
looking  at  him  steadfastly,  she  spoke  in  clear  tones : 

"  Lionel,  when  you  say  that  of  me,  you  know  you  do  not 
say  truth.  Until  you  yourself  would  have  it  otherwise, 
you  were  but  a  brother  to  my  thoughts.  The  sincerity  of 
what  I  did  then,  you  dare  not  question.  And  if  you  have 
so  watched,  you  know  that  he  and  I  have  stood  as  widely 
separated  as  if — as  if — ,"  she  Altered,  while  her  color  deep- 
ened. "  But  I  will  not  attempt,"  she  broke  off  with  some 
pride,  "  to  justify  that  which  stands  justified  before  my  own 
conscience  and  before  yours,  when  passion  does  not  blind 
you." 

A  long  pause  followed.     Fadette  had  begun  to  repent 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  325 

her  hasty  words,  when  he  said,  in  tones  as  cold  as  hers  had 
been— 

"  Leave  me  now,  Fadette.  I  thank  you  for  coming,  but 
now  I  must  be  left  alone.  My  letter  contained  all  I  wish 
to  say  to  ray  brother ;  and  for  you,  I  must  ask  you  to  for- 
2:ive.  Forgive  me,  Fadette ;  a  few  hours  hence  would  ex- 
piate greater  sins  than  mine." 

"  Lionel,  what  do  you  mean  ?  Before  this  night  is  over, 
I  will  have  arranged  a  way  for  your  escape.  You  will 
surely,  surely  not  refuse  it  ?  Have  you  a  right  to  throw 
away  your  life?"  she  cried  tremblingly,  as  he  shook  his 
head. 

He  regarded  her  with  a  strange  smile. 

"  That  has  already  passed  out  of  my  keeping,  and  out  of 
yours,"  he  said.  "  There  are  circumstances,  known  too  well 
to  me,  though  not  to  you,  which  render  any  plan,  however 
well  arranged,  perfectly  impracticable.  You  have  done,  in 
thus  coming  to  me,  all  that  in  any  possibility  can  be  done 
— far  more  than  I  dared  hope.  But — "  afid  his  tones  were 
hurried,  and  he  turned  away,  restlessly  measuring  the  pave- 
ment with  strides  that  echoed  irregularly — "  you  need  not 
waste  another  regret  on  me ;  welcome  these  fetters" — as 
thev  clanked  with  his  hasty  movement — "  welcome  even  the 
death-hour,  with  its  gaping  crowds,  its  flaring  steel,  its — 
anything,  everything,  before  life,  and  life  only,  at  your 
hands,"  he  ended  hoarsely. 

She  could  not  speak.  She  only  sank  down,  bowled  be- 
neath a  great  despair. 

He  passed  her  in  his  pacing  to  and  fro.  Their  glances 
met,  and  he  was  softened  by  the  mute  appeal  of  hers. 

"  Fadette,  dearest,  I  was  mad  to  grieve  you  thus,"  he 
cried. 

"What  circumstances,  Lionel?     It  cannot,  cannot  be  !" 


326  BAXDOLPU  HONOR 

He  sat  beside  her  on  the  couch,  and  passed  his  arm  around 
her  in  a  quietly  caressing  way. 

"  Dearest,"  he  said,  "  will  you  not  believe  me  when  I  tell 
you  in  sad  truth  that  they  are  such  as  render  all  escape  im- 
possible? These  are  my  last  moments,  Fadette,  these  few 
with  you — the  last  I  care  to  live  of  those  remaining,"  he 
amended  hastily,  as  she  started.  "  And  you  will  not  waste 
them  on  vain  questions,  which  can  bring  but  painful  asso- 
ciations? Rather  let  my  little  sister  speak  to  me  of  dear 
old  Randolph  Honor,  in  the  days  when  she  was  all  my  own, 
and  life  was  one  long  holiday.  Those  ties,  Fadette — you 
need  not  break  them  now  ?  When  you  are  bound  by  newer 
ones,  they  will  still  be  dear  to  you." 

She  laid  her  head  upon  his  shoiilder,  weeping  wildly. 

"  Lionel !  O  Lionel !  I  cannot  let  you  go  !"  she  moaned. 

After  a  time  her  grief  had  spent  its  violence,  and  she 
leaned  against  him  like  a  tired  child,  while  sobs  ever  and 
anon  shook  her,  the  crimson  lips  still  quivered,  and  tears 
yet  welled  up  in*  the  great  dark  eyes  fixed  upon  vacancy. 
Then  she  roused  herself,  struck  by  a  sudden  doubt.  She 
cried  out,  in  trembling  earnestness — 

"  You  are  not  deceiving  me  or  yourself,  Lionel  ?  You 
could  not  be  so  cruel." 

He  raised  her  hand  clasped  fast  in  his. 

"  God  be  my  witness,"  he  responded  solemnly,  "  that  I 
but  speak  the  truth.  Were  life  a  priceless  boon  to  me,  it 
were  yet  beyond  my  reach." 

"  Ah,  I  Tvill  plead  for  it  upon  my  bended  knees  !  They 
cannot,  they  shall  not  deny  me !"  she  said  passionately. 

He  smiled  in  pity  down  upon  her,  drawing  her  yet  closer 
to  his  side.  From  his  gesture  and  his  smile,  she  read  how 
futile  to  him  seemed  her  promise.  L^nshaken  in  that, 
though  faltering  in  her  hope,  her  face  darkened  after. 

They  sat  thus,  speechless,  only  holding  by  each  other's 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  32Y 

hands,  as  though  that  were  all  the  grasp  they  both  had 
upon  life — all  the  hold  that  kept  them  both  from  drifting  to 
despair. 

She  took  no  note  of  time — no  thought  of  anything,  save 
that  perhaps  they  parted  now  forever.  But  he  seemed  to 
be  listening  to  every  sound  without.  He  started  and 
breathed  faster  as  often  as  a  step  approached.  More  than 
once  he  admonished  Fadette  that  it  would  be  safer  to  delay 
there  no  longer.  Until  she  assured  him  the  captain  had 
promised  to  summon  her  when  she  ought  to  go. 

And  silence  fell  again. 

Then  the  door  unclosed. 

He,  restless  still,  had  caught  the  first  approach,  and  had 
put  Fadette  gently  from  him,  before  there  entered  Mr. 
Thorne  with  an  armed  soldier.  Fadette  rose  mechanically. 
But  Mr.  Thorne  led  her  to  her  seat  again. 

"  No,  my  dear,"  he  said  ;  "  you  will  wait  here — it  is  your 
friend  who  is  to  go — " 

Fadette  did  not  note  his  hesitation,  the  trembling  of  the 
hand  detaining  her,  nor  the  horror  which  had  stricken  the 
benign  old  face.     She  was  looking  at  Lionel. 

He  stood  before  her,  firmly  and  calmly — perhaps  some- 
what paler  than  but  now,  yet  perfectly  unmoved. 

"They  have  sent  for  me,  Fadette,"  he  said.  "The 
captain  has  need  of  me  a  moment  before  you  go.  Remain 
here  until  you  are  summoned." 

"  But  you  will  come  back — I  shall  see  you  again  ?"  she 
cried,  locking  his  hand  in  both  of  hers. 

"  Yes,  yes — you  shall  see  him  again — ;just  as  long  as  you 
choose,"  the  guard  made  answer  here. 

Fadette  caught  at  the  words  eagerly,  perfectly  uncon- 
scious of  the  brutal  leer  accompanying. 

"  Lionel,  Lionel,  they  must  be  going  to  release  you  ! 
Else  why  have  they  sent  for  you  ?"  she  cried. 


3 28  BAXDOLPH  IIOXOR 

And  a  gleam  of  hope  flitted  across  her  upturned  face. 

He  made  no  answer,  only  pressed  her  hands  closely  as  he 
disengaged  them. 

"  Remember,"  he  said,  bending  over  her,  in  a  tone  for 
her  ear  alone,  "  you  are  my  own.  I  hold  you  as  my  own 
still  while  I  live — still." 

"  Still  yours,"  she  answered  solemnly,  and  far  more 
earnestly  than  in  the  former  troth-plight. 

A  strange  expression  flashed  into  his  eyes,  and  he  moved 
as  if  he  would  have  caught  her  to  him.  Oblivious  of  any 
standers-by,  she  raised  her  face  to  him  simply  and  frankly, 
as  in  childhood's  parting  she  might  have  done.  But  a 
cloud  of  melancholy  gathered  on  his.  With  infinite  tender- 
ness he  merely  touched  her  hand  again.     Then — 

"  Till  death  us  do  part,"  he  said.  And  turned  hastily 
away. 

Her  eyes  followed  him  as  he  quitted  the  apartment,  with 
that  tender  pity  which,  as  she  had  said,  was  far  removed 
from  love,  but  with  which  she  now  dedicated  herself  to  the 
duty  of  a  lifetime. 

For  as  she  sat  there  quietly,  there  seemed  so  little  doubt 
of  a  reprieve,  so  little  doubt  of  ultimate  release,  that  even 
for  one  passing  instant  came  the  thought  of  Ruthven  Erie. 

It  came,  however,  only  to  be  resolutely  put  away. 

Five,  ten  minutes,  thus  were  gone,  when  footsteps  passed 
the  door.  Waiting  there  listlessly,  the  weight  of  fear  in 
great  part  lifted  from  her  mind,  she  listened  idly  to  the 
voices.     They  were  low  at  first ;  then  one  exclaimed — 

"  What !  the  execution  already  ?  So  soon  ?  These  men 
assembling  now — " 

At  once  the  truth  flashed  on  her.  Her  teriified  grlance 
sought  Mr.  Thorne.  He  stood  there,  his  face  covered, 
averted  from  her. 

She  sprang  up.     And  before  he  could  comprehend  her 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  329 

movement — before  any  bystander  beside  the  door  could 
intercept — slie  had  rushed  from  the  apartment,  through  tlie 
guard-room,  and  had  gained  the  outer  door. 

Coming  out  from  the  dingy  prison-cell  into  the  strong 
noontide  glare,  she  stood  for  one  moment  dazzled;  faint 
and  dizzy  also  with  the  sudden  terror.  The  next,  her 
straining,  burning  eyes  were  ware  of  a  keener  flash  than 
that  of  the  unshadowed  sun  which  basked  down  straight 
upon  the  broad,  wild,  boundless  prairie.  A  keener  flash — 
a  gleam  of  glittering  uplifted  rifles.  A  file  of  men  drawn 
up  to  the  left.     And  fronting  them — 

She  started  forward,  a  shriek  striking  apart  the  deathly 
lips.  But  it  died  gaspingly  upon  them.  For  Lionel  was 
speaking. 

With  a  gesture  of  command  which  overbore  attempted 
opposition,  he  stood  there.  His  eyes  were  flashing,  his  brow 
flushing,  his  voice  rang  clear,  and  strong,  and  full,  with  not 
one  faltering  of  fear.  No  man  who  watched  him  there  had 
thought  for  his  deformity.  The  undaunted  bearing — the 
proud  consciousness  of  right — the  fearless  outlook — the  im- 
press of  truth  on  brow,  and  voice,  and  gesture — swayed 
the  crowd  which  gathered  behind  the  soldiery.  It  was  to 
that  crowd  he  looked,  to  that  he  spoke : 

"  Friends  who  love  the  South,  bear  witness — I  who  die 
this  day  an  outlaw's  death,  raise  now  before  the  Great 
White  Throne  these  fettered  hands  as  stainless,  reddened 
only  by  the  blood  shed  for  our  country  in  honorable  war- 
fare. God  be  my  Judge,  and  our  country's  Avenger! 
God  save  the  South  !     And  receive  my  soul !" 

With  the  words,  he  bent  one  knee  on  the  rude  coflin 
where  he  had  been  standing.  The  uplifted  hands  dropped 
with  a  clanking  of  the  fetters.  He  bowed  his  head,  await- 
ing. 

But  a  wild  shriek  rent  the  air.     The  young  girl  flung 


330  RASDOLPU  UOXOR. 

herself  before  the  ominous  glitter  of  that  musketry.  Her 
slight  figure  swayed  and  quivered  in  her  passionate  eager- 
ness, her  tender  fury  for  the  doomed  man.  Her  eyes  burned 
with  a  strange  unnatural  brilliance,  her  cheek  flushed,  her 
whole  face  lighted  up  with  wondrous  beauty  and  enthusiasm. 

She  stretched  her  hands  out  toward  the  throng. 

"  Save  him !  save  him  !"  she  cried  out,  in  tones  that 
thrilled  the  hearts  of  even  foes.  "  You  dare  not  let  him 
die.    For  God  will  punish  you  with  them  !    Oh,  save  him  !" 

He  had  started  up  erect  at  the  first  sound  of  that  voice. 
For  the  first  time  a  tremor  shook  his  frame.  A  glow  of 
tumultuous  triumphant  joy  made  instant  glory  on  his  face. 
He  stretched  his  arms  out  toward  her — to  warn  back,  or 
claim  her  all  his  own. 

But  while  the  accents  lingered  on  her  lips,  a  strong  grasp 
seized  her  powerless,  and  dragged  her  back.     And  then — 

A  flash  of  lifted  steel  —  a  sharp  and  cruel  ring  which 
pierced  the  flaunting  noontide,  and  crashed  and  echoed  in 
repeated  sound.  But  ere  those  echoes  died — ere  yet  the 
dense  white  cloud  of  smoke  rolled  by — Fadette  had  fallen 
senseless  to  the  earth. 


^^^^^s 

^^'^^H^^^^^M^^^^ 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 


ijq^  PRISON. 


"  My  sun  has  set ;  I  dwell 
In  darkness,  as  a  dead  man  out  of  sight ; 
And  none  remains,  not  one,  that  I  should  tell 
To  him  mine  evil  plight 
This  bitter  night." 

ChBISTDTA  ROSSETTl. 

WOMAN"!  What  the  devil!"  was  the  ejacula- 
tion, muttered  or  mental,  of  most  of  the  half-dozen 
Confederate  prisoners.  The  door  of  their  cell  was 
swung  suddenly  open  to  admit  a  veiled  woman's  form  thrust 
in,  and  then  as  suddenly  closed  fast  upon  her. 

As  for  the  poor  girl  thus  apostrophized,  since  that  fear- 
ful day  she  had  passed  through  those  which  intervened, 
with  so  little  of  life  or  thought  remaining,  that  not  until 
the  echoed  footfalls  of  her  guard  died  in  the  corridor  with- 
out, did  she  realize  her  situation. 

She  drew  back  her  veil,  and  glanced  wildly  around. 

The  men  had  risen  on  her  entrance.  The  noisy  song  was 
hushed — a  worn-out  pack  of  cards  was  pushed  away — and 
one  poor  fellow  struggled  hastily  into  the  gray  coat  which 
might  conceal  his  tattered  shirt. 

Some  pity,  yet  more  annoyance,  had  been  legible  on 
every  countenance.  But  now  that  the  poor,  pale  face,  with 
those  dark  rings  beneath  the  startled  eyes,  showed  so  deathly 
wan  and  colorless,  every  one  was  moved  to  self-forgetful- 


S82  RAXDOLPH  HONOR. 

ness.  And  several  advanced,  lest,  trembling  as  she  did,  she 
should  fall. 

Apart  at  the  further  end  of  the  apartment,  half-reclining, 
leaning  on  his  arm,  a  slender  youth  now  turned  to  look  at 
the  new-comer.  Turned — and  with  an  exclamation,  that 
might  seem  of  mingled  pain  and  pleasure,  started  to  his 
feet. 

A  mere  stripling,  as  he  stood  before  her.  The  firm  red 
lips  were  fringed  with  a  moustache,  but  the  smooth  clieeks 
had  not  yet  lost  the  rosy  bloom  which  still  was  glowing 
through  the  sunburnt  hue.  Glowing  deeper  while  he 
paused  before  her  there — paused  as  if  he  had  abruptly 
checked  himself  from  some  intent. 

"  What !  you  know  her.  Hunter,  then  ?  A  friend  of 
yours  ?" 

The  voice  spoke  low  behind  him.  He  drew  back  hur- 
riedly from  the  comrade's  arm  which  would  have  rested  on 
his  shoulder.  Deeper  yet,  and  yet  more  hotly,  surged  the 
blood  up  to  the  broad  clear  brow,  where  short  brown  hair 
waved  crisply  from  the  temples.  He  hesitated.  Then  he 
said  in  an  unsteady  tone — 

"  A  friend  ?  You  see  she  does  not  know  me.  But,  poor 
girl,  poor  girl,  you  are  right — I,  and  you,  and  all  here,  are 
her  friends.  Xow  let  us  see  what  we  can  do  for  her — God 
help  her !" 

If  the  shapely  hand  brushed  ofi"  a  furtive  tear,  ere  it 
dashed  back  impatiently  the  tress  which  fell  upon  the  brow, 
the  next  instant  it  was  busily  at  work,  removing  the  most 
comfortable  of  the  pallets  into  a  remote  corner,  disposing 
a  pair  of  blankets  to  serve  as  a  screen,  and  malting  the  few 
arrangements  for  comfort,  which  the  united  means  of  all 
the  soldiers  there  afforded.  As  they  proffered  cheerfully 
their  all,  some  one  remarked,  with  a  laugh,  to  the  prime 
mover  and  director — 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  333 

"  \Vliat,  Hunter !  putting  up  one  of  those  two  blankets, 
of  which  you  were  so  hcnt^on  making  to  yourself  a  tent— 
an  oratory— or  the  devil  knows  what  ?" 

But  Hunter  merely  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  No  contribution  from  the  captain  yet,"  he  said.     "  I 

will  Qjo  wake  him." 

Stretched  upon  his  blanket  on  the  floor,  one  arm  a  pillow 
for  the  head  with  its  disordered  rings  of  chestnut,  the  other 
fluno-  across  his  eyes  to  shut  out  the  day  which  only  just 
was'fading  into  twilight,  lay  the  sought-for  man,  sleeping 
away  thel:edium  of  the  weary,  changeless  hours.  The  lad 
bowed  on  one  knee  before  him. 

He  called  him—"  Captain!  Captain !"— twice  or  thrice. 
But  still  there  came  no  movement  in  reply. 

"Hunter,  you  foolish  boy!"  here  cried  a  comrade; 
"your  shield  and  safeguard  slumbers  like  the  seven 
sleepers  So—"  and  he  advanced  and  shook  him  kindly, 
yet  soAewhat  roughly,  by  the  shoulders.  But  Hunter  lent 
no  helping  hand.  He  drew  back,  coloring  agam,  while  with 
a  drowsy  muttered  "  Oh,  confound  you— can't  a  fellow  rest 
in  quiet?"— the  shielding  arm  was  impatiently  withdrawn. 
"  Ah,  Hunter,  is  it  you  ?"  he  said,  more  gently. 
The  face  thus  exposed  to  view  was  one  familiar.  It  was 
that  of  Harry— now  Captain  Harry— Thorne. 

He  shook  himself  free  at  once  from  sleep,  and  rose  up, 
stretching  himself  and  yawning.  And  in  so  doing,  he  first 
became  aware  of  some  unusual   phase  in  the   prison-lile 

monotony.  . 

"Why,  what  is  the  row?"   he   cried,  advancing   to  a 

group  of  men. 

But  as  these  turned  to  meet  him  with  an  explanation, 
Fadette  was  now  discovered  to  his  view. 

His  hasty  forward  movement,  and  his  exclamation,  were 
both  checked. 


334  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

For  she  sat  there  on  the  chair  on  which  she  had  first 
sunk  do-v^Ti,  almost  unconscious.  A  death  in  life — so 
ghastly  was  the  rigidity  of  the  features,  and  the  eyes  gazed 
blankly  out  with  the  unmovedness  of  one  to  whom  all  hope, 
all  future,  has  its  end. 

When  Harry  Thome  approached,  and,  beside  himself 
with  distress,  caught  her  hand,  and  prayed  for  but  one 
word,  one  sign  that  at  the  least  she  knew  him,  she  turned 
those  stony  eyes  one  instant  on  him.  And  in  a  hollow 
tone,  which  sounded  like  the  echo  of  a  voice,  she  pronounced 
his  name,  then  sat  on  abstracted  as  before. 

But  Hunter  was  now  bending  over  her. 

"  Drink,"  he  said  gently,  putting  to  her  lij^s  a  tin  cup  of 
coffee  which  one  had  hastily  made  from  the  preparations 
for  the  evening  meal.  She  obeyed  mechanically.  But  the 
warm  beverage  brought  no  refreshing  to  her  weary  frame. 
"With  an  effort  she  swallowed  one  mouthful,  and  looked  up 
with  an  attempted  smile  of  gratitude,  more  piteous  than 
any  tears. 

Those  men  stood  around  her  in  reverent  silence.  Tears 
coursed  their  way  down  unfamiliar  cheeks,  from  eyes  which 
had  gazed  on  a  hundred  battle-fields  unmoved. 

But  she  suffered  the  stripling,  who  quietly  took  authority, 
to  remove  her  hat  with  tender  womanly  touch.  And  in 
utter  exhaustion  she  sank,  it  seemed  even  tranquilly,  upon 
her  pallet. 


*"    ■'    "^    It    11    iiji    n     M,  II  ,/','''„  'PC 


1   n    11    n    li    n    II    II    n    "    '"    "    "    '"  n 
CHAPTER   XXV. 


AT   WATCH. 

So  till  the  break  of  day 
Then  footsteps — " 


Despised  and  Rejected. 


ADETTE    leaned   in   the 
prison-chamber.     Her 


grated   window   of  the 

wan    cheek    was    pressed 

the  bars,  her  great  dark  eyes,  with  the 

rings   beneath,  were  fixed  with    a   vacant,   horror- 


black 

stricken,  yet  almost  unconscious  immovability,  upon  the 

scene  without. 

In  the  glimmering  dawn  the  Missouri  rolled  its  yellow 
tides  at  the  foot  of  the  town,  sweeping  round  the  jutting 
point  of  its  ojDposite  shores,  on  which  she  gazed.  It  was 
not  that  she  marked  the  glancing  glitter  of  those  crested 
hurrying  waves,  or  the  rich  plenty  of  those  southwestern 
banks,  where  the  swaying  glory  of  the  harvest,  now  laid 
low,  stood  in  stacks  and  sheaves  awaiting  the  ingathering. 
But  far,  far  away  beyond,  she  traced,  or  seemed  to  trace, 
that  scarcely  noted  road  along  which  she  had  been  whirled, 
and  that  broad  sere  prairie,  with  its  weary  waste  of  staring 
sunshine,  its  swaying  throng,  its  dazzling  steel,  the  blood- 
thirsty tiger-glare  that  flashed  mercilessly.  She  made  a 
convulsive  effort  to  check  thought  there.  But  back  and 
back  it  still  would  come.  Last  evening,  the  third  of  her 
captivity,  she  for  the  first  time,  yielding  with  the  instinct 
of  gratitude,  had  roused  herself  from  that  lethargy  of  woe 
in  which  she  had  sunk  upon  her  pallet,  and  had  let  her 


336  JIA2\'D0LFII  JIOSOB. 

fellow-captives  place  her  at  tlie  window  for  a  breath  of  the 
balmy  autumn  air.  Yet  her  attention  could  not  follow  to 
the  sunset  glory  overhead,  which  the  lad,  his  lip  trembUng 
with  compassion,  had  pointed  out.  Instead,  it  had  fallen 
on  the  blood-red  tides,  and  thence,  across  in  the  far  dis- 
tance, had  seemed  to  fall  upon  that  fearful  plain.  A  quiver 
had  flitted  across  the  set  features,  and  she  had  broken 
into  an  uncontrollable  agony  of  weeping — the  first  tears 
shed.  With  the  early  dawn,  after  the  short  heavy  sleep  of 
exhaustion,  she  now  stole  from  her  screened  couch,  without 
a  glance  on  the  men,  who  yet  slumbered,  stretched  out 
wrapped  in  their  blankets ;  or  on  the  stripling  who  lay  at 
her  couch's  foot,  as  if  to  guard  it; 

That  aching  tension  upon  brain  and  eyes,  again  was 
pressing  down  so  heavily,  that  with  unconscious  longing 
for  the  tears  last  night  had  brought,  she  returned  to  the 
window  where  they  had  come  to  her,  like  a  mist  that 
drifted  and  gathered  slowly  from  that  plain  afar,  which  yet 
was  ever  present  to  her  shuddering  sight. 

The  fresh eninor  breath  of  dawnins^  brousrht  no  cool- 
ness  to  her  fevered  cheek,  nor  to  her  parched  lips.  The 
rosy  glow  of  coming  day  touched  her  with  no  sense  of 
brightness,  though  it  blushed  far  to  the  southwestern  hori- 
zon toward  which  she  gazed.  Through  the  hush  of  sleep 
which  still  enchained  the  town,  the  ripple  of  the  ruffling 
waves  surged  with  a  restful  murmur,  and  the  breeze  that 
thus  passed  over,  bore  on  with  it  a  waft  of  harvest-fields 
and  mellowed  prairie-pastures,  beneath  the  fresh  sweet 
dews  of  morning.  Yet  these  fell  on  deadened  senses.  She 
yet  leaned  there  with  that  rigid  mouth,  those  burnmg  eyes, 
that  fever-heightened  color. 

A  light  touch  fell  upon  her  shoulder.  She  did  not  heed 
at  first.  But  she  started  when  a  voice  at  her  side  pro- 
nounced her  name  in  a  low  distinct  tone. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  337 

The  stripling  who  had  been  ever  beside  her,  with  that 
gentle  care,  that  tender  guardianship,  now  bent  over,  and 
spoke  her  name  again. 

"  You  do  not  know  me,"  he  said,  as  the  girl  raised  her 
head  with  a  vacant  outlook  in  the  eyes  that  yet  burned 
themselves  free  from  tears. 

She  did  not  speak,  but  still  kept  them  fixed  there,  uncon- 
sciously, as  it  were. 

"  Have  you  forgotten  Beauregard — your  friends  at  Sleepy 
Hollow — and — at  the  Homestead  ?" 

Into  the  upraised  eyes  there  swept  a  sudden  shadow,  and 
over  the  rigid  face  a  cloud,  and  the  cloud  dissolved  in  a 
storm  of  tears,  and  the  head  dropped  upon  the  arms  flung 
wildly  on  the  window-sill.     Her  choked  voice  gasped  out : 

"  Poor  Charley — poor  Charley  !  They  murdered  her 
loved  ones  too  before  her." 

Her  face  thus  turned  away,  and  her  thoughts  reverting 
to  her  own  ghastly  misery,  she  could  not  see  the  emotion 
which  convulsed  the  wonted  calm  of  her  companion,  heaved 
the  breast,  and  clenched  the  firm  white  hand  that  had 
just  touched  Fadette's  shoulder,  while  his  teeth  set  hard, 
almost  grinding  together  in  the  struggle  for  composure. 
But  in  a  moment  that  flashing  glance  was  softened  with 
tender  drops  of  pity,  as  Fadette's  fast-quivering  but  voice- 
less sobs  shook  her  slight  frame.  Upon  one  knee  he  sank 
beside  her. 

"Aye  indeed,  poor  Charlie  !"  he  said  in  suppressed  tones. 
"Alone  in  the  world,  without  one  to  love  and  care  for, 
without  one  to  strive  and  struggle  for !  Can  you  see  how, 
when  these  fiends  at  last  unbound  her  fetters,  and  left  her 
with  a  jeer,  she  staggered  across,  and  sank  beside  her  dead  ? 
How,  one  hand  above  her  white-haired  father's  charred  and 
blackened  corpse,  the  other  stroking  back  the  clotted 
golden    curls  of  her   young   brother,  whose  head,  death- 

15 


338  RANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

heavy,  she  had  lifted  to  her  knee,  she  should  in  their  pres- 
ence thus  take  solemn  oath,  that  while  a  blow  remained  to 
be  struck  for  their  country  against  such  murderous  wretches, 
all  her  s.trength  should  go  to  strike  that  blow  ?  Can  you 
see  how,  when  her  dead  were  laid  in  their  last  resting-place, 
heaven's  free  winds  and  dews  alone  could  cool  her  burning 
brain,  and  the  fulfilment  of  her  vow  alone  bring  comfort  to 
her  ?  Can  you  see  how  she  came  in  her  disguise  among 
her  old  familiar  friends,  beside  Ruthven  Erie  and  Harry 
Thorne  marched  and  fought  shoulder  to  shoulder  as  any 
other  comrade, — was  at  last  captured  with  Harry  Thorne, 
and—" 

"  Charley  !  Charley !''   cried  Fadette. 

She  had  been  looking  on  her  companion  in  perplexity 
and  wonder,  which  increased  with  every  word. 

"Aye,  Charley — "  and  the  hand  outstretched  with  trem- 
bling eagerness  was  taken  in  a  firm  close  hold. 

"But,  remember,"  Charley  said,  quickly,  "I  am  Charley 
only  to  you.  You  must  guard  my  secret  well.  It  has 
never  been  suspected." 

"Oh,  Charley,  how  could  you  keep  it  thus,  so  long?" 
Fadette  asked,  completely  roused  and  interested. 

"  Xot  quite  an  age,"  Charley  replied,  smiling,  as  she  saw 
how  successful  had  been  her  aim  in  discovering  herself. 

"  From  the  time  of  my  joining  the  army  under  General 
Price  in  Arkansas,  to  my  capture  in  Missouri,  was  but  one 
month.  And  I  warrant  you,  I  withheld  myself  so  much 
from  my  comrades,  that  I  was  pronounced  toploftical.  Bui 
this  drcAV  less  attention,  since  we  were  pauselessly  on  the 
march,  and  I  kept  my  place  close  to  Captain  Thorne,  who 
pitied  me  for  a  poor  young  lad  first  venturing  from  home, 
and  took  me  under  his  shadow.  After  we  had  crossed  the 
Missouri  line,  and  the  entire  army  concentrated  at  Freder- 
icktown,  Mr.  Erie,  who  had  made  his  way  in  advance  fron\ 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  339 

Arkansas,  rejoined  us,  and  he  fell  into  Mr.  Thome's  view 
of  my  position.  So  that  I  had  two  very  efficient  patrons. 
Indeed,  in  the  only  battle  in  which  we  fought  side  by  side, 
it  seemed  tliat  both,  and  Mr.  Erie  especially,  had  an  idea  it 
was  their  duty  to  see  that  this  sapling,  setting  up  to  be  an 
oak,  was  not  cut  down.  Does  not  the  bark  hide  well  the 
lack  of  j3ith  within  ?" 

"  Such  a  metamorphosis !  You  so  fair,  and  now  so  dark — 
a  moustache — " 

"  Much  fiercer  when  I  first  adopted  it.  So  fierce  indeed, 
that  on  my  first  martial  appearance  in  that  and  a  most  war- 
like plumed  hat,  there  went  across  from  camp-fire  to  camp- 
fire  the  greeting,  "  Come  out  from  behind  that  moustache — 
we  see  your  boots  sticking  out" — and  a  crowing  as  of  all  the 
roosters  in  Christendom.  I  stopped  short,  perfectly  be- 
wildered, and  aghast  at  this  unthought-of  phase  of  military 
life.  But  at  that  moment  Captain  Thorne  came  by.  He 
saw  my  consternation,  and  asked  the  cause,  when  a  shout 
replied — 'Been  at  old  White's  henroost.  Captain— see  that 
rooster's  tail  sticking  out  of  his  hat.'  It  seems,  the  Captain 
had  the  day  before  arrested  some  of  the  men  for  that  very 
deed.  And  when  he  ordered  me  to  follow  to  his  tent,  after 
us  came — '  See,  boys,  chicken-soup  for  the  whole  shebang 
going  into  the  Captain's  tent— cock-a-ra-a.'  You  may 
imagine  I  speedily  let  the  rooster  fly.  But  I  did  not  lose 
with  it  my  name  of  chicken-coop.  And  cock-a-ra-a  was 
sung  out  many  a  time  after  Captain  Thorne,  whose  good- 
humored  recognition  of  the  title  made  him  still  more  popu- 
lar. But  I  think  if  any  one  had  that  day  hinted  the  other 
popular  saying,  '  Here's  your  mule' — I  would  have  given  up 
on  the  spot,  convinced  that  the  long  ears  were  pricking  out 
of  my  lion's  skin." 

"  And  you  have  actually  been  in  a  battle  ?"  said  Fadette, 
on  whom  the  mention  of  Ruthven  Erie  had  not  been  lost. 


340  RANDOLPH  HONOR 

"  What,  did  you  think  I  would  go  to  the  army  as  a  dead- 
head ?  An  account  of  it  ?  Certainly,  from  the  word  go,  if 
you  care  to  hear  it. 

"  After  we  had  left  Fredericktown  behind,  and  General 
Shelby  had  been  detached  with  purpose  to  destroy  the 
Iron-Mountain  Railroad,  we  took  up  the  line  of  march  for 
Ironton.  Xothing  of  interest  occurred  beyond  an  occa- 
sional skirmish  with  roying  bands  of  '  Home  Guards,'  until 
we  arriyed  in  the  yicinity  of  Arcadia,  near  Ironton,  which, 
though  well  fortified  and  garrisoned  by  yeteran  troops,  soon 
yielded  to  the  rebels'  impetuous  attack.  The  enenay,  closely 
pursued  by  our  cayalry,  retreated  northward  through  the 
little  town  of  Ironton,  and  finally  took  position  in  the  fort 
at  Pilot  Knob.  About  ten  o'clock  our  Diyision  arriyed  at 
Ironton,  and  while  General  Fagan's  was  being  dismounted 
and  formed  across  the  road  and  yalley  leading  from  Ironton 
to  Pilot  Knob,  ours  was  dismounted  and  marched  to  the 
summit  of  Shepherd's  Mountain,  in  full  yiew  of  the  enemy's 
position,  fort,  and  the  town  of  Pilot  Knob.  From  the  crest 
of  the  mountain  to  the  centre  of  the  fort  was  about  fifteen 
hundred  yards,  and  from  Fagan's  position  to  the  fort  was 
nearly  the  same. 

"  Shepherd's  Mountain,  facing  the  enemy,  had  been  par- 
tially cleared  of  timber,  leaying  the  huge  boulders  jutting 
out  of  the  steep  decliyity,  which  might  seem  the  work  of 
some  terrible  earthquake. 

"  Eyerything  was  now  in  readiness  for  the  assault,  each 
and  eyery  one  anxiously  awaiting  the  signal-guns.  There 
were  in  the  fort  from  thirteen  to  fourteen  hundred  yeteran 
infantry,  and  artillerymen  to  man  sixteen  guns,  four  of 
which  were  siege-pieces,  capable  of  being  brought  to  bear 
on  any  point — " 

"  Oh,  Charley,"  Fadette  here  interposed,  "  how  learnedly 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  341 

you  discuss  things  which  would  have  been  enough  to  terrify 
another  girl  to  death." 

"  Do  you  tliink  I  was  born  in  the  woods  to  be  scared  by 
an  owl  ?     ]>iit,  however — 

"  Shortly  after  two,  General  Fagan  opened  with  his  two 
guns,  the  bugles  sounded  the  advance,  and  the  entire  line 
rushed  forward.  General  Fagan's  Division  coming  up  from 
the  southeast,  and  General  Marmaduke's  Missourians  de- 
scending the  mountain  from  the  south.  Gallantly  our  line 
pushed  on  in  face  of  a  murderous  shower  of  shot,  shell,  and 
canister.  .  The  heroic  Cabell  had  his  horse  killed  under  him 
within  fifty  yards  of  the  fort,  and,  sword  in  hand,  headed 
his  brigade  on  foot.  At  last  the  ditch  encircling  the  fort 
was  reached,  and  to  our  utter  dismay  was  found  to  be  im- 
passable— twelve  feet  wide,  ten  deep,  and  to  the  top  of  the 
embankment  at  least  fifteen  feet.  The  only  poem  I  ever 
knew  flashed  over  me: 

" '  Forward,  tlie  Light  Brigade  ! 
Charge  for  the  guns  !'  he  said : 
Into  the  valley  of  death 
Rode  the  six  hundred. 

"Beyond  a  doubt  we  were  gone  up  for  ninety,  if  we 
remained.  Our  situation  was  one  of  great  peril.  Every 
volley  thinned  our  ranks.  There  was  nothing  left,  but, 
under  a  storm  of  deathly  missiles,  to  recross  that  bloody 
valley,  and  up  that  steep  acclivity,  where  the  rocks  yet 
bear  the  crimson  stain  left  by  many  an  unknown  hero. 

"  The  troops  of  both  Divisions,  weary  and  worn  as  they 
-were,  camped  for  the  night  in  and  around  Ironton,  and  in 
the  mean  time  ladders  were  to  be  prepared  on  which  at  dawn 
to  scale  the  walls  of  the  stronghold.  All  orders  were 
issued  for  the  second  attack.     The  night  was   clear  and 


342  BANDOLPH  UOXOR. 

cold,  and  the  moon  shone  brightly  over  the  sleeping  army, 
and  the  mountains  where,  it  seemed  to  sleepless  me,  still 
rang  the  concussions  which  only  a  few  hours  since  had 
shaken  them  to  their  very  centres.  The  moon  went  down 
about  two  o'clock,  and  not  long  after  the  whole  earth 
rocked  with  an  explosion.  The  Federal  commander  had 
blown  up  the  fort,  abandoned  his  position  and  artillery,  his 
sick  and  wounded,  and  vamosed  northward  at  a  howling 
pace.  "We  were  speedily  in  pursuit,  and  alas  for  ]Mr. 
Thorne  and  me,  a  skirmish  sealed  our  fate.  TV^e  were  sent 
here  prisoners." 

"  And  did  you  feel  no  fe^ar  in  battle  ?" 

"Must  I  confess  it?— no  little  at  first.  The  first  fire 
nearly  fanned  me  right  out  of  my  cavalry  boots.  But 
courage  as  well  as  cowardice  is  contagious.  When  Harry 
Thome's  sword  flashed  before  me,  and  Ruthven  Erie  aimed 
steadily  at  my  side — Oh,  how  grand  he  is  in  battle — " 

"  He  ?     Who  ?"  Fadette  inquired. 

Charley  blushed  crimson,  and  laughed. 

"  Why — ^both,  of  course.  Fine  child,  fine  child,  both. 
But  I  defy  any  one  not  to  be  enthused  beside  brave  men. 
And  when  they  fell  around,  who  would  not  strike  in  just 
avenging  ?  And  I  had  more,  far  more,  to  nerve  me,"  she 
added  in  a  husky  voice. 

Fadette  laid  her  hand  softly  upon  Charley's,  and  tears 
trembled  on  her  lashes. 

But  Charley  shook  herself  free  from  thoughts  she  dared 
not  harbor. 

"  It  is  a  great  promoter  of  valor,  that  idea  of  keeping  a 
guard  on  your  own  meat-house,"  she  said  lightly.  "  And 
now  I  am  going  to  make  a  wonderful  confession,  which  I 
shall  expect  you  to  keep  profoundly  secret.  You  will  prob- 
ably understand  that  I  went  into  the  army  in  the  convic- 
tion that  Pharaoh's  order  concerning    the  boys  was   the 


RANDOLPH  nONOB.  343 

wisest  mandate  ever  issued,  and  that  women  were  not  per- 
mitted to  go  into  battle,  merely  because  tliey  were  too 
valuable  to  risk.  But  my  judgment  was  very  like  a  warped 
piece  of  liomespun,  which  wanted  the  filling.  Experience 
has  woven  in  quite  another  thread  of  ideas,  which,  as  it  is 
not  putting  new  cloth  into  old  garments,  but  merely  filling 
up  the  warp,  may  be  expected  to  hold  together.  I  still 
firmly  believe  that,  to  keep  my  parable  of  the  loom,  women 
have  a  very  material  part  in  the  web  of  this  world,  but — it 
is  to  fill  the  interstices  between  the  men ;  and — the  men  are 
very  right  to  hold  them  fast  in  their  position.  Yes,"  she 
added  shamefacedly,  "  we  are  formidable  as  Manassas' 
wooden  guns,  which  may  keep  a  timid  enemy  in  check 
until  he  summons  resolution  to  approach.'' 

"  Is  that  spoken  of  your  campaigning  ?  Charley,  this  dis- 
guise is  more  perfect  than  Confederate  gray." 

"  No,  not  of  campaigning  exactly.  I  will  still  affirm  I 
struck  some  blows.  But  I  did  not  take  the  starch  out  of 
every  masculine  collar,  as  I  half  anticipated.  Very  like 
the  snips — nine  Charley  Goodfellows  would  make  a  man. 
And  if  1  were  not  played  out  so  completely  here,  I  think 
perhaps — perhaps — my  oath  would  be  best  kept  by  nursing 
in  the  hospitals,  and  thus  restoring  others  to  strike  stronger 
blows  than  mine." 

A  silence  followed.  Into  Fadette's  eyes  came  once  more 
the  troubled  cloud  of  memory.  They  wandered  back,  ab- 
stracted, to  the  view  across  the  river,  ending  in  imagina- 
tion in  that  field  of  blood.  Charley  spoke  to  her,  all  un- 
heard. But  while  she  was  revolving  how  to  rouse  her, 
from  the  street  below  arose  a  hurried  tread  of  many  feet, 
excited  tones,  a  rushing  tumult. 

Fadette  sprang  up,  the  blood  returning  to  her  face. 

"  Hark,  Charley,  hark  !"  she  cried.  "  Pid  you  not  hear 
*the  rebels' — can  it  be  possible  that  our  troops  are  coming  ?" 


344  RANDOLPH  UOXOR. 

Charley  listened,  her  cheek  too  aglow. 

With  every  moment  did  the  sounds  increase.  And  now 
the  thunder  of  artillery  burst  forth. 

It  startled  one  and  all  of  the  captives  to  their  feet.  They 
crowded  round  the  further  window.  Harry  Thorne  was  at 
this  one  in  a  moment. 

"  Hunter,  Hunter,  we  are  free  I"  he  cried  in  great  excite- 
ment, claj^jjing  his  ci-devant  brother-in-arms  enthusiastically 
upon  the  shoulder. 

Charley  shrank  back,  glancing  at  Fadette  with  embar- 
rassment. But  she  recollected  herself  sufficiently  to  reply 
in  her  accustomed  tone — 

"  Yet  Glasgow  is  well  fortified  and  strongly  garrisoned 
— its  walls  are  bristling  with  cannon,  and — Great  Heaven, 
Mr.  Thorne,  how  can  we  listen  to  those  guns,  and  know  our 
men  are  falling,  and  we  cannot  help  them  ?" 

Her  blue  eyes  flashed  fire  as  she  spoke.  She  stood  up, 
quivering  with  eagerness,  her  color  burning  brighter. 

Harry  Thorne,  whose  pulse  had  bounded  higher  on  a 
hundred  battle-fields  to  those  same  echoes,  and  who  now 
was  striding  back  and  forth  like  an  angry  lion  chafing 
against  his  prison-walls,  stood  still  and  looked  at  her  ap- 
provingly. 

"  Of  such  as  you  are  heroes  made,"  he  said,  and  wrung 
the  hand  she  clenched  upon  her  breast. 

He  cast  a  j^itying  glance  upon  Fadette,  who  on  her  knees 
before  the  window  watched  the  wreaths  of  smoke  that 
wavered  here  across  the  sky  at  every  volley,  and  were  all 
that  told  the  captives  of  the  battle's  ebb  and  flow.  Tears 
shut  the  vision  out  from  time  to  time,  and  coursed  each 
other  down  her  death-white  cheeks.  Her  pale  lips  mur- 
mured broken  prayei^s  and  sobs,  and  now  a  stifled  moan, 
when  louder  than  before  crashed  forth  the  fierce  artillery. 
Each  thunder-peal  that  shook  the  air,  and  made  the  little 


EANDOLPU  HONOR.  345 

city  totter  to  its  centre,  struck  upon  and  shattered  the  ii^irl's 
very  heart.  Never  before  had  she  been  within  ear-shot  of 
a  battle,  and  every  surging  shock,  it  seemed  to  her,  rolled 
on  laden  with  destruction,  and  must  sweep  away  whole 
ranks  of  the  brave  men  breasting  it.  No  life  of  all  laid 
freely  down  for  Southern  Freedom  was  indifferent  to  her, 
and  in  her  most  unthinking  days  she  had  been  wont  to  pray 
for  them  with  heartfelt  earnestness.  And  foremost  in  the 
conflict  now,  she  seemed  to  see  Ruthven  Erie,  still  press- 
ing on. 

Little  of  the  heroine  was  in  her  aspect.  And  the  fanci- 
ful admiration  which  had  come  and  gone  at  intervals 
through  Harry  Thome's  acquaintance,  received,  after  sun- 
dry wounds  inflicted  by  her  oblivion  of  him  through  her 
captivity,  its  death-blow  from  her  cowardice,  as  he  be- 
lieved it. 

"If  she  had  but  a  tithe  of  this  boy's  spirit,"  he  com- 
mented inly,  "  it  would  become  her  great  dark  eyes  much 
better  than  this  fear." 

Thus  more  than  two  hours  went  by  heavily,  each  moment 
bearing  to  the  listeners  the  weight  of  years.  The  glow  of 
hope  had  never  left  young  Thorne,  the  flush  was  still  on 
Charley's  brow — when  on  the  storm  of  conflict  closed  an 
awful  calm. 

The  raging  of  the  fight  had  been  appalling.  But  this 
hush,  as  of  the  grave,  was  far  more  awful. 

Moments  passed,  and  all  was  o\^r.  The  suspense,  to 
those  shut  out  from  knowledge  of  the  issue,  was  unbear- 
able. Harry  Thorne  shook  the  door  in  frenzy.  But  its 
iron  bolts  and  studded  panels  remained  firm.  Charley 
stood  with  fingers  clenched  together  to  compel  herself  to 
quiet.  And  Fadette  was  waiting,  holding  by  the  wall, 
swaying  and  shivering  at  every  sound  that  entered  through 
the  street  below. 

15* 


343  RAXDOLPU  UOXOR. 

And  noT\-  a  sound  was  really  coming  near.  P'ootsteps, 
and  ringing  spurs,  and  steel,  upon  the  stairs.  Bolt  after 
bolt  withdrawn  along  the  corridor.  And  now  at  last  this 
door — 

Fadette  was  powerless  to  move.  She  only  shivered, 
staggering  where  she  stood,  and  gazing  wildly  round  with 
dilated  eyes.  And  must  have  fallen — but  that  Ruthven 
Erie  in  one  swift  stride  had  caugfht  her  in  his  arms. 


:^^5^ 


^  v^v^^.^^^T^' 4o^^  >  ij»*ftjMr  :;;^ 


CHAPTER    XXYI. 


ON   THE    MARCH. 


.  ,  .  .  "  Gird  his  harness  on  him, 
And  ride  with  him  to  battle,  and  stand  by 
And  watch  his  mightful  hand  striking  great  blows." 

Enid, 


HE  sun  had  gone  down  on  Glasgow  at  peace. 
After  a  hotly  contested  combat,  that  town's  com- 
manding General,  perceiving  the  intention  of  the 
Confederates  to  carry  the  works  by  storm,  had  run  up  the 
white  flag,  and  surrendered  his  fourteen  hundred  men  and 
strong  defences  to  the  gallant  General  Clarke  and  his 
thirteen  hundred  Missourians  of  the  dashing  Light  Horse 
Division.  But  the  prisoners,  although  paroled  for  regular 
exchange,  were  many  of  them  soon  again  upon  the  "  war- 
path." 

However,  the  substantial  fruits  of  this  victory  were  im- 
mense— army  stores,  arms,  cavalry  horses,  and  bountiful 
rations  for  the  worn  and  weary  troops. 

Another  day  had  come  and  gone,  the  Missouri  had  beeji 
recrossed  the  Glasgow  victors  rejoined  the  main  army, 
and  within  a  few  miles  of  Lexington,  Shelby  had  as  usual 
defeated  the  enemy  in  a  severe  engagement,  and  encamped 
upon  the  battle-field,  the  entire  army  resting  near. 

And  now  another  dawning  flushed  the  skies. 

Fadette  was  before  the  open  tent,  where  two  ladies, 
wives  of  oflicers  of  the  Division,  waited,  ready  for  the  move 
attendant  upon  early  marching-orders.     Under  their  care 


348  liA:\DOLPH  IIOXOR 

had  Rutliven  placed  her,  when  she  trembled  and  shrank 
from  the  thought  of  remaining  alone  at  Glasgow  until  her 
aunt  should  come  to  seek  her — or  till  she  should  perhaps 
be  made  a  prisoner  again.  He  had  yielded  to  her  pleading 
to  be  taken  to  Amy,  in  the  army's  southward  march.  And 
these  lady-friends  of  his  had  cordially  received  her. 

Beside  her  stood  a  tall,  broad-shouldered  girl,  who  in  her 
womanly  attire  was  the  Charley  Gqpdfellow  of  old.  The 
metamor2)hosis  was  brought  about  by  Ruthven  Erie. 
When,  accompanied  by  the  ci-devant  Hunter,  he  had  led 
Fadette  from  the  prison  to  a  hotel  parlor  in  the  town,  he 
had  suddenly  turned  to  Charley,  saying — 

"  And  now,  my  dear  Mr.  Hunter,  I  must  request  you  to 
make  way  as  speedily  as  possible  for  Miss  Charley  Good- 
fellow.  This  request  has  been  frequently  upon  my  lips 
since  first  we  met  at  Fredericktown,  but  Miss  Charley 
would  at  that  time  have  found  it  awkward  to  appear. 
What,  must  I  again  abate  somewhat  of  my  zeal  in  attack- 
ing the  enemy,  because  of  the  necessity  to  parry  and  ward 
in  your  defence  ?" 

And  Charley,  laughing  and  blushing,  had  been  com- 
pelled to  repeat  the  admission  confessed  to  Fadette  a  few 
hours  before,  and  reluctantly  to  acknowledge  that  since 
even  the  two  thousand  stand  of  arms  that  day  acquired 
would  not  furnish  nearly  all  the  volunteers,  every  musket 
could  be  put  in  stronger,  abler  hands  than  hers.  A  hint 
that  in  her  true  capacity  she  could  do  far  more  service  in 
caring  for  the  wounded,  somewhat  consoled  her. 

Why  the  two  girls  waited  there,  was  presently  made 
evident  as  Ruthven  Erie  and  Harry  Thorne  rode  up.  For 
but  a  moment's  pause,  however.  They  were  to  march 
immediately,  their  command  being  in  front. 

"  Should  you  hear  firing,  do  not  be  alarmed,"  said  Ruth- 
ven, as  Fadette,  a  faint  color  stealing  into  her  pale  face, 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  340 

stood  by  and  stroked  his  horse's  mane,  he  in  his  haste  still 
mounted. 

— "  Blunt's  Kansas  forces,  whose  advance-  was  yesterday- 
defeated,  we  may  have  to  encounter  probably  to-day.  Nay, 
do  not  fear,"  as  she  looked  up,  and  tried  to  speak  with 
quivering  lips.  "  Remember,  Ave  are  your  vanguard.  And 
thus  I  ride  forth  your  knight,  bound  to  defend  you." 

He  stooped,  and  gently  drew  from  the  hand  that  rested 
trembling  on  the  horse's  neck,  a  glove  which  it  had  held. 
He  placed  it  against  the  black  plume  in  his  hat,  secured  by 
a  silver  crescent,  cross,  and  star,  the  badge  of  his  brigade. 
And  grasping  her  passive  fingers  one  instant  firmly  in  his 
own,  meeting  her  timid  eyes  Avith  one  bright  flashing 
gleam  of  fearlessness,  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  speedily 
had  vanished  from  the  wistful  gaze  which  followed. 

Harry  Thorne  had  been  the  while  at  Charley's  side,  glan- 
cing down  on  her  from  time  to  time  with  mingled  admira- 
tion and  bewilderment.  Her  color  was  slightly  heightened 
by  the  embarrassment  which  his  observation  still  occa- 
sioned, since  the  identity  of  his  comrade  had  been  disclosed 
to  him  at  Glasgow.  Her  wonted  composure  of  manner  was 
softened  by  that  embarrassment,  and  her  whole  appearance 
in  such  striking  contradiction  to  the  stripling  who  had 
fought  undaunted  at  his  side,  that  the  young  soldier  con- 
tinually watched  her  with  puzzled  interest,  and  approval 
of  her  present  self,  tinged  by  the  remembrance  of  the  strip- 
ling's daring,  and  withal  retiring  womanliness.  He  felt  a 
growing  satisfaction  in  the  transformation.  As  Ruthven 
Erie  had  possessed  himself  of  Fadette's  glove,  Thorne  had 
stooped  to  beg  the  knot  of  ribbon  with  which  Fadette  had 
decked  out  Charley.  And  she  gave  it  with  a  smile  and  a 
half  sigh,  and  a  warning  that  if  he  wore  it,  he  must  remem- 
ber he  had  double  blows  to  strike — those  for  himself,  and 
those  his  quondam  comrade  must  now  leave  to  him. 


350  EAXDOLPH  HOJS'OB. 

The  color  surged  over  her  face  as  she  thus  spoke ;  and 
over  his,  while  he  bowed  low  and  rode  away. 

Upon  the  bank  of  the  Little  Blue  River,  hid  from  obser- 
vation by  a  clump  of  low-branched  trees,  an  ambulance  had 
halted.  The  pale-faced  women  who  thus  ventured  nearer — 
in  view  of  that  field  where  all  their  hopes  were  centred — 
had  seen  the  skirmish-line  which  crossed  the  stream,  had 
watched  it  drive  the  enemy's  rear  back  to  the  west  side  of 
the  bottom,  and  beheld  Blunt's  forces,  some  three  thousand 
men,  occupying  the  hills  which  overlooked  the  creek  and 
bottom.  The  brave  "Light  Horse  Division"  had  soon 
crossed,  dismounted,  formed,  the  bugles  sounded  the  ad- 
vance, and  the  whole  line  moved  forward.  The  enemy's 
position  was  one  of  great  strength,  for,  besides  his  eleva- 
tion, several  stone  fences  ran  parallel  with  the  advancing 
force,  and  gave  his  troops  an  excellent  shelter. 

"Look,  look!"  cried  Charley,  in  excited  haste,  as  she 
now  took  possession  of  the  field-glass ;  "  the  Federals 
waver — are  dismayed !  For  see  how  we  sweep  onward, 
firmly  and  determined !" 

However,  the  confusion  was  but  momentary.  From  the 
heights,  artillery  now  thundered  down,  replied  to  by  the 
guns  of  the  Confederates.  An  instant,  and  the  lines  were 
within  musket-range,  and  the  conflict  now  began  in  earnest. 

Volley  followed  volley,  till  the  field  was  dark  with  smoke. 
The  heavy  atmosphere  came  drifting  even  here,  where  still 
those  women,  breathless,  speechless,  quivering  to  every 
deep  reverberation  echoed  long  from  ridge  to  ridge,  gazed 
movelessly  through  blinding  tears.  Many  a  hero  went 
down  while  they  watched.  Yet  every  loss  but  served  to 
make  the  thinned  ranks  more  determined.  Xow  and  then, 
athwart  the  sulphurous  mists,  flashed  out  a  gleam  of  steel, 
and  in  the  waver  of  the  smoke  was  recosfnized  a  friend. 


RANDOLPH  HONOB.  351 

Thus  Harry  Thorne  was  marked,  and  Ruthven  Erie,  in 
thickest  of  the  fight.  Their  general  and  his  gallant  staff 
were  seen,  ever  under  the  severest  fire,  encouraging  the 
troops  so  worthy  of  them.  Yolley  followed  volley,  yet  the 
foe  still  stood  their  ground. 

"  My  God  !  my  God  !  strike  for  us  now !"  cried  Charley 
suddenly. 

There  had  been  a  momentary  lull ;  but  she  discerned  its 
import.  The  brigade  was  to  be  hurled  against  the  enemy's 
position. 

That  fearful  fire,  none  who  heard  it  may  forget.  Those 
moments  of  suspense,  while  thunderous  clouds  wrapped 
from  the  yearning  sight  that  storm-black  crest — how  many 
a  daring  deed  was  done  before  they  passed  !  Thrice  in 
that  charge  had  Gen.  Marmaduke  his  horse  killed  under 
him.     Again  did  Col.  Greene  add  later  laurels  to  those 

won  at  Pilot  Knob.     And  General ,  aye  and  many  a 

private,  known  alone  in  the  proud  memory  of  their  com- 
rades. 

The  moments  passed.  The  death-dark  mists  rolled  sul- 
lenly away.  And  as  they  disappeared,  revealed  the  dash- 
ing "  Light  Horse,"  victors  of  those  heights. 

It  was  evening.  The  enemy  had  continued  his  retreat 
beyond  Independence,  which  town  the  Confederates  occu- 
pied, encamping  for  the  night. 

In  a  parlor  of  the  principal  hotel,  Fadette  was  lounging 
wearily  upon  the  sofa.  The  triumph  of  the  day  was  inter- 
mingled with  much  of  pain.  The  wounded  men  she  had 
been  tending  since  the  halt,  so  thi'onged  her  memory  with 
their  ghastly  sufferings,  the  stillness  was  so  weighted  with 
their  stifled  groans,  that  moments  lagged  like  hours  while 
she  awaited  Charley  before  going  to  her  room. 

She  had  been  trying  to  read,  but  the  strong  light  an- 


352  RANDOLPH  HONOB. 

noyed  lier.  And  now,  lowering  it  to  a  half  twilight,  she 
moved  her  seat  to  the  open  window,  dropping  her  head 
upon  the  sill,  and  welcoming  the  chill  October  air  which 
brushed  against  her  throbbing  temples. 

As  she  rested  there,  her  fingers,  intertwined,  sought,  as 
was  their  wont  of  late,  that  ring  which  bound  her  to  a  re- 
membrance of  the  dead.  She  was  twirling  it  idly  round 
her  finger,  when  a  step  sounded  close  beside  her.  She 
started,  and  in  the  movement  the  ring  fell. 

It  was  Ruthven  Erie,  who  had  been  watching  her  some 
moments  ere  he  had  drawn  nearer,  and  who  saw  the  lost 
treasure  flash  across  his  path.  An  angry  impulse  urged 
him  to  set  his  heel  upon  it.  But  he  raised  it  from  the  car- 
pet, and  advanced. 

Fadette's  eyes  met  his.  The  color  nished  into  her  face. 
For  when  she  put  her  hand  out  for  the  ring,  he  placed 
it  on  her  finger  as  he  had  done  that  night  upon  the  gallery 
of  the  little  backwoods  cabin.  Then,  stronger  still,  came 
back  the  memory  of  Lionel.  And  involuntarily  she  bent 
her  head  and  touched  his  gift,  whose  bond  could  hurt  no 
longer,  with  her  lips. 

The  angry  blood  flushed  Ruthven's  brow. 

"  You  are  far  more  cruel  than  I  thought  you  could  be," 
he  said  hoarsely. 

Recalled  by  his  tone,  she  looked  up.  The  haughtily  re- 
proachful glance  which  met  her  own,  broke  down  all  her 
reserve.  She  stretched  both  hands  out  toward  him,  while 
she  cried — 

"Mr.  Erie  !  When  this  alone  is  left  to  bind  me  still  to 
Lionel?" 

"  To  Lionel  ?  And  who  is  Lionel  ?  Is  not  this  Lloyd 
Randolph's  ring  ?"  he  demanded. 

He  would  then  have  grasped  the  hands  he  had  but  now 
refused  to  see.     But  she,  with  quick  instinct    feeling  that 


BANDOLPH  HONOR  353 

with  the  dead  man's  name  upon  her  lips  she  could  not  yield 
her  hand  to  living  lover,  drew  back,  while  with  hesitating 
utterance  she  told  him  how  he  had  at  first  deceived  hiir^- 
self,  and  she  had  deepened  his  impression,  always  naming 
Lionel  by  his  alias. 

He  did  not  interrupt  her  with  one  word.  For  he  had 
both  seen  and  understood  her  withdrawal.  He  looked 
down  on  the  lashes  weighted  low  with  tears  for  Lionel.  A 
deep  true  love  within  his  heart,  he  stood  aloof  in  reverence 
of  her  sorrow. 

Thus  she  had  meant  he  should  do.  She  felt  his  generosity, 
as  day  by  day  she  had  grown  surer  of  his  love.  Through 
all  her  unfeigned  grief  for  Lionel,  there  Avas  the  comfort  of 
this  other's  care,  and  now  she  rested  under  it,  and  needed 
not  a  word  or  glance. 

And  needed  not  a  word  or  glance.  But  in  the  days  that 
followed  ?  It  has  been  said :  "  Eternity  itself  cannot  give 
back  the  loss  struck  from  a  moment." 

She  lingered,  hardly  stirring,  till  the  door  opened  to  ad- 
mit Charley,  with  Captain  Thorne  and  one  of  the  ladies 
under  whose  care  were  the  young  girls. 

Fadette  roused  herself  into  gayety,  to  give  the  lie  to  any 
trace  of  tears.  And  when  Harry  Thorne  advanced,  with 
an  embarrassed  apology  for  the  somewhat  disordered  state 
of  his  dress,  she  swept  him  her  prettiest  courtesy,  like  her 
old  coquettish  self  of  "  Beauregard." 

"  Ah,  Captain  Thorne,"  she  said,  "  our  heroes 

'  crowned  for  vanquishing, 
Should  bear  some  dust  from  out  the  ring.' 

But  what  news  ?     Do  Ave  march  again  to-morrow  ?" 

"Your  say-so  would  declare  for  another  day  of  Inde- 
pendence ?  But  don't  you  know,  to  make  inquiries  of  a 
mere  captain,  is  '  dropping  buckets  into  empty  wells  ? ' " 


354  BAXDOLPH  UOXOK 

"  Xevertheless,  '  I  rede  ye  tent  it,'  "  she  responded  gayly. 
"But  as  for  the  dropping,  we  young  ladies  might  reply, 
'  'tis  our  vocation,  Hal.'  For,  oh,  the  queries  we  put  forth 
to  one  and  all,  and  either  draw  up  nothing  whatever,  or 
something  far  from  truth.  You  are  all  too  deep  for  even  a 
sounding  !'' 

"  What  now  ?"  asked  Charley,  joining  them  with  her 
new  friend — "  Dropping  buckets  into  empty  wells,  you  say  ? 
Quite  sure  your  buckets  are  not  warped  and  leaky  ?  If  so, 
mend  them  before  you  accuse  the  wells." 

"A  Saul  among  the  prophets!"  Mr.  Erie  exclaimed. 
"  My  dear  Miss  Charley,  you  are  defending  our  maligned 
sex!" 

"  Miss  Charley  is  a  powerful  ally,"  began  Captain  Thorne, 
well  pleased. 

"Fair  and  softly,"  she  interrupted,  in  more  confusion 
than  the  occasion  warranted ;  "  because  you  catch  sight  of 
one  puny  shoat  of  an  opinion,  don't  rest  secure  none  of  the 
old  rattlesnakes  remain.  Remember,  the  tribe  was  to  bruise 
men's  heel — and  you  are  none  of  you  less  vulnerable  than 
that  ancient  hero  who — whose  name  I  have  forgotten," 
she  ended,  laughing. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

EBB-TIDE. 

Maimed  and  ruined  1    I  watched  beside, 
As  calm  as  lie  the  dead. 

Another's  image  on  his  breast- 
On  mine,  his  fainting  head. 

Not  Fortune'^  tide  alone,  but  Love, 
Had  from  his  heart  ebbed  far— 

A  fresh  love,  strong  beneath  the  moon. 
Swept  o'er  the  harbor-bar. 


XCE   more  at  dawn  stood  Rutliven  Erie  beside 
Fadette. 
... The  Confederate  army,  sorely  pressed  by  tre- 
mendous odds,  had  continued  on  its  march  until  it  was  now 
encamped  in  Kansas,  on  the  soil  of  natural  enemies. 

From  the  day  the  Confederates  first  crossed  the  line  into 
Missouri,  to  the  night  of  the  twenty-fourth  of  October,  they 
had  engaged  the  foe  thirty-eight  different  times.  On  as 
many  fi'elds  they  had  raised  "the  shout  of  victory  o'er  and 
o'er,"  and  oftentimes  had  reaped  the  harvest  of  success. 
They  had  received  some  seven  thousand  recruits,  from 
three  to  four  thousand  stand  of  arms,  and  many  wagons 
laden  with  the  spoils  of  war.  But  at  last  the  ammunition- 
trains  were  well-nigh  empty,  thousands  and  thousands  of 
captured  rounds  having  been  expended.  The  veteran  ranks 
w^ere  thinned  at  least  one-fourth.  And  hostile  hordes  now 
hovered  on  front,  flank,  and  rear. 

Kuthven's  brow,  as  Fadette  looked  brightly  up  to  him, 
hopeful  even  in  her  anxiety,  was  clouded  with  the  knowl- 


356  BANDOLPH  HONOR 

edge  that  the  total  of  eleven  thousand  armed  men,  with 
hardly  half  a  dozen  rounds  of  ammunition,  and  horses 
broken  by  long  service,  were  feeble  indeed  to  meet  the 
twenty  thousand  of  fresh  troops  j^resently  to  be  hurled 
upon  them. 

Shelby  was  already  on  his  line  of  march  in  front.  The 
cumbrous  train  was  just  about  to  move.  And  Ruthven 
Erie  one  moment  tarried  there  to  say  farewell. 

To  him  it  was  a  solemn  moment.  For  the  "  Light  Horse 
Division"  was  to  bring  up  the  rear,  with  orders  to  hold  the 
enemy  in  check  until  the  trains  could  be  well  under  way. 
And  among  that  handful,  who  should  breast  "  the  crimson 
tide  of  battle"  to  the  end  ? 

The  morning  was  clear,  calm,  and  cold.  Fadette  leaned 
from  the  ambulance  Avhich  waited  for  the  other  ladies.  The 
freshness  of  the  hour  brought  a  freshness  to  her  cheek,  a 
quicker  bounding  to  her  pulses.  The  silver-gray  light 
across  the  far-spread  prairie  flowed  level  to  the  foot  of 
mounds  at  every  few  miles  lifting  themselves  hundreds  of 
feet  above  the  slumbering  meads — ^here  sere,  there  faintly 
green  aiid  golden  in  their  stillness.  And  over  all  was  deep 
tranquillity.     Fadette  turned  cheerfully  to  Ruthven — 

"  Ah,  Mr.  Erie,  can  there  be  anything  to  dread  to-day  ? 
All  is  so  peaceful  and  so  calm." 

*  Si  ch'a  bene  sperar  m'era  cagione, 
L'ora  del  tempo,  e  la  dolce  stagione.* 

She  quoted  softly. 

"  And  should  the  shining  blue-coat  enemy  apjDcar,  ablaze 
with  gilt  and  steel,  would  you  then  add, 

'  Di  qiiella  fera  la  gaietta  pelle  ?'  " 

he  responded  lightly. 

"  Xo,  that  I  would  not,"  she  made  answer  with  a  shudder ; 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  357 

"  only  I  trust  we  shall  see  nothing  of  them.  But  where  do 
you  ride  to-day,  Mr.  Erie  ?" 

"  To  guard  the  train,"  he  said. 

"  Ah,  then  you  will  not  be  in  danger." 

He  answered  nothing,  seeing  that  she  had  misunderstood. 
But  he  almost  regretted  that  reticence,  when  her  friends 
now  came  to  take  their  places  in  the  ambulance.  For  with 
a  sudden  whim,  and  a  mocking  smile  more  like  those  so  fain 
of  old,  she  refused  her  hand  in  parting  to  "  the  wagoner,"  and 
waved  him  only  a  blithe  aic  revoir. 

A  blithe  au  revoir! 

"To  guard  the  train,"  the  gallant  "Light  Horse"  held 
the  rear,  defending,  with  severe  loss  to  the  foe,  the  west 
bank  of  the  little  creek  which  flowed  between.  And  mov- 
ing out  at  last  from  the  skirting  timber,  "to  guard  the 
train  "  they  formed  on  the  open  prairie  and  met  the  Fed- 
erals in  force. 

Once  more  "to  guard  the  train,"  when  its  defenders 
reached  the  high  ridge  commanding  Mine  Creek,  and  to 
their  utter  consternation  saw  the  wagons  huddled  together, 
as  it  were,  on  the  near  side  of  the  stream,  without  an  in- 
stant's faltering  they  stood  to  bear  the  brunt  of  overwhelm- 
ing odds. 

Upon  this  frail  little  battle- worn  band  of  cavalry — there 
had  been  no  time  to  dismount — re-enforced  by  the  brave 
Fagan  at  the  head  of  his  column,  were  now  hurled  the 
twenty  thousand  of  the  enemy.  The  whole  earth  rang  be- 
neath their  tread — their  twenty  thousand  sabres  far  out- 
flashed  the  sunshine. 

To  meet  this  fierce  array  of  steel,  did  Marmaduke  lead 
on  the  dauntless  Eighth.  And  thus  the  two  whom  Charley 
and  Fadette  deemed  safe,  were  hand  to  hand  mth  the  foe 
in  the  unequal  conflict.     Hand  to  hand — yet  for  them  not 


358  BANDOLPH  EONOE. 

one  thought  arose  from  those  two  watchets  praying  with 
full  hearts  for  the  stanch  Confederates  doing  battle  in 
those  impenetrable  clouds  of  smoke  which  rolled  and 
gloomed  upon  the  ridge. 

And  the  train,  thus  rescued,  passed  the  stream. 

The  storm,  so  long  in  gathering,  now  burst  upon  us. 
The  stars  and  bars  floated  bravely  through  it  for  a  time, 
but  the  odds  were  irresistible  as  ocean-billows.  Whelmed 
and  swept  away,  our  lines  were  broken.  Yet  not  till  many 
had  expended  their  last  shot,  and  often  at  close  quarters. 

Individual  deeds  of  gallantry  were  many,  very  many. 
In  the  fierce  red  light  of  battle,  how  those  high  true  souls 
shone  out !  Defeat,  and  ruin,  and  despair,  and  death — 
these  glared  on  them  relentlessly,  ablaze  from  the  foeman's 
serried  ranks.  There  was  now  no  hope — there  could  be 
none.  It  was  but  life  for  life — the  pouring  of  their  hearts' 
blood  to  redeem  the  comrades  down  below  there  on  the 
southward  march.  The  resistless  billows  rolled  upon  them 
and  swept  friend  from  friend.  In  the  fearful  Mahlstrom, 
many  and  many  a  peerless  life  went  down. 

In  the  fiercest  of  the  current,  in  the  deadliest  of  the  sul- 
phurous surge — still  following  their  General  and  his  staff — 
were  Ruthven  Erie  and  Harry  Thorne. 

The  last  flag  of  the  South  which  waved  upon  that  field 
— the  Crescent,  Cross,  and  Star,  out-flashing  silver-white 
against  its  blue — was  borne  and  saved  by  Marmaduke's 
escort. 

The  heroic  Cabell  was  a  prisoner.  And  as  Marmaduke 
surrendered  to  his  captors  an  empty  pistol,  Ruthven  Erie, 
wielding  one  last  blow,  in  hopeless  rescue  of  his  General, 
fell  heavily  to  the  earth,  his  sword-arm  shattered. 

The  fragments  of  the  broken  columns  were  collected  on 
the  south  side  of  Mine  Creek.     And  when  the  night  closed 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  '  359 

in,  the  ai*my  was   beyond   the   Marmiton,   encamped   for 
rest. 

The  two  young  girls  had  been  sitting  together  before  the 
tent  in  mournful  silence. 

"  Oh,  Charley,  is  it  not  strange  that  we  hear  nothing  yet 
of — Capt.  Thome  ?"  Fadette  asked  at  length,  hesitating, 
and  with  a  quick  impulse  of  gratitude  to  the  darkness  for 
A^eiling  the  color  she  could  feel  mount  upward  to  her  brow. 

"  Yery  strange  that  we  hear  nothing  yet  of — Mr.  Erie," 
Charley  rejoined  with  an  arch  glance,  that  was  not  alto- 
gether thrown  away  in  the  flickering  light  of  the  camp- 
fire.  "A  perfect  no-account !  Ordered  to  ride  with  the 
train,  and  yet  they  give  us  all  day  no  sign  of  recognition, 
no  word  of  encourasjement !  What  can  be  cfone  with 
them  ?  I  shall  just  orderly  seize  upon  the  first  passer-by 
as  escort,  for  I  know  we  can  be  of  use  to  the  wounded,  and 
our  two  chaperons  are  engrossed  with  their  own. 

"  What,  Charley,  you  desire  escort  or  chaperon  ?" 

Charley  laughed,  confusedly. 

"  When  the  bank  once  begins  to  cave  in,"  she  said,  "  you 
might  as  well  yoke  the  oxen  to  your  house,  for  there  is  no 
knowing  where  it  will  stop.  But  look !  Who  is  that  ? — 
Why,  Mr.  Thorne,  it  is  not  possible  you  have  remembered 
us  at  last !  And  where  is  your  chosen  comrade,  most 
doughty  squire  of  baggage-wagons  ?" 

"  I — I  thought — has  not  Erie  been  here  ?"  he  said,  ad- 
vancing and  looking  around  eagerly. 

"  Not  he — Stay,  whither  away  so  fast  ?  We  have  been 
waithig  for  you — can  we  not  go  to  visit  the  wounded  ?" 

"  Yes — yes — of  course.     But  can  you  not  wait — until — " 

The  darkness  covered  the  expression  of  anxiety  which 
settled  more  heavily  upon  his  face.  Charley  only  thought 
his  manner  hurried  and  abrupt. 


360  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

"  No,  that  we  cannot,"  she  replied ;  "  but  if  you  have  not 
time  to  take  us,  we  two  will  go  together.     Come — " 

She  stood  up,  beckoning  to  Fadette. 

But  for  all  reply,  he  drew  her  hand  within  his  arm. 

This  protecting  care  was  a  novelty  to  her,  and  she  looked 
at  him  curiously,  doubting  somewhat  whether  to  remove 
her  hand.  But  presently,  overworn  with  the  fatigue  and 
the  excitement  of  the  day,  she  found  herself  leaning  on  him 
with  a  sense  of  relief 

They  had  walked  but  a  short  distance  thus,  out  of  the 
camp-fire  light,  when  Fadette  suddenly  stopped  short. 

"  Look — look !"  she  cried.  "  There — there — Does  he  not 
lie  there  like  one  dead  ?    Oh,  Mr.  Thorne  !" 

Before  them,  fallen  prone  beneath  the  shadow  of  a  clump 
of  bushes,  lay  a  man  outstretched.  The  rigid  outline,  the 
bared  head  thrown  back,  the  arm  dropped  slack  upon  the 
turf,  resembled  more  the  long  last  rest,  than  that  which 
many  a  wearied  veteran  was  snatching  now  in  haste.  Har- 
ry Thorne  was  in  one  instant  at  his  side.  While  he  stooped 
to  feel  for  some  pulsation  of  the  heart,  Fadette  approached, 
and  flashed  the  lantern  which  she  carried  full  upon  the 
ghastly  face. 

With  a  long  low  wail,  she  sank  upon  her  knees. 

For  the  blaze  revealed  the  fixed  and  death-like  counte- 
nance of  Ruthven  Erie. 

She  did  not  hear  the  cry  of  dread  that  broke  from  Char- 
ley, nor  the  groan  from  Harry  Thorne.  She  was  uncon- 
scious of  the  murmured  consultation.  And  only  when  at 
the  young  soldier's  bidding  Charley  put  her  arm  around 
the  drooping  form,  and  would  have  raised  and  led  her  back 
whence  they  had  come,  she  roused  and  shook  off  her  friend 
impatiently. 

"  I  will  not  leave  him  !  Go  !"  she  cried.  And  again  she 
had  forgotten  all,  except  the  death  that  seemed  before  her. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  3(51 

She  was  presently  aware  that  while  Charley  waited  with 
her,  Captain  Thorne  had  gone  to  seek  a  surgeon.  .But  she 
drew  no  hope  from  that.  Thus  beneath  the  flickering  moon- 
beams on  the  dead  autumnal  leaves  had  Mr.  Grahame  lain. 
Thus  in  the  noontide  glare,  which  flaunted  on  the  ebbing 
of  the  life-tide,  Lionel  had  fallen.  No  ghastlier  light  than 
now,  had  wavered  upon  either  brow,  no  redder  pool  had 
dyed  the  sod  than  that  which  gleamed  upon  the  grasses 
where  she  knelt. 

But  when  the  surgeon  came,  and  taking  Charley's  place 
at  the  right,  opposite  Fadette,  after  a  silent  examination 
pronounced  slowly, 

"  No — he  is  not  dead" — 

Fadette  looked  up,  the  color  flashing  back  into  her 
face. 

"  Oh,  Dr.  Smith—"  she  began. 

"No — a  prisoner  with  our  general,"  said  the  stranger. 
"  But  we  will  see  what  we  can  do.  This  is  your  husband  ?" 
And  he  gave  her  a  compassionate  glance. 

"  No — but  my  cousin,"  she  hesitated, — the  claim  she  once 
had  scofled  at,  caught  up  now  in  trembling  eagerness,  lest 
her  right  to  stay  beside  him  might  not  be  awarded. 

"Ah,  that  is  better,"  he  returned,  apparently  relieved. 
"Your  cousin,  then,  has  only  swooned.  But" — and  he 
touched  the  right  arm  lying  on  the  turf  beside  him — "  this 
must  be  amputated,  and  at  once.  You  had  best  leave  us. 
I  will  send  for  you  again  when  all  is  over." 

A  low  faint  moaning  at  the  surgeon's  touch  just  quivered 
on  the  rigid  parted  lips.  Consciousness  had  slowly  been 
reviving,  and  now  his  eyes  unclosed  upon  Fadette.  The 
light  had  faded  from  her  face  again,  a  shudder  shook  her 
frame.     But  she  said  firmly — 

"  I  shall  remain  here.     Do  what  must  be  done,  at  once." 

He  surveyed  her  doubtfully. 

i6 


362  BANDOLPn  HONOR. 

"  You  cannot  bear  it,"  he  replied.  "  And  if  you  should 
give  way — " 

Across  the  helpless  man  she  stretched  her  hand  to  hira. 

"  Do  you  see  how  steady  it  is  ?"  she  said.  "  You  must 
trust  me.     I  shall  not  fail  you." 

Her  clear  and  resolute  accents  reassured  him.  And  while 
Harry  Thorne  drew  near  to  his  assistance,  and  Charley,  her 
lips  set  in  determined  self-control,  upheld  the  lantern, 
Fadette  had  turned  again  to  Kuthven  Erie. 

He,  thus  wounded,  captured,  and  escaping,  as  did  maay 
a  one  that  day,  not  closely  guarded,  had  followed  fast  and 
far  tlie  anhy  on  its  march,  and,  the  goal  attained  at  last, 
had  fallen  from  his  horse,  exhausted  with  the  loss  of  blood. 
He  was  still  powerless  to  speak.  But  he  had  heard  the 
suro-eon's  words.  The  ringr  of  the  sursjical  instruments  as 
they  were  taken  forth,  interpreted  them  yet  more  clearly  to 
his  wandering  senses.  He  riveted  upon  Fadette  a  gaze  of 
keenest  agony.     She  met  it  with  undaunted  courage. 

"  Thank  God  it  is  not  death !"  she  whispered. 

And  she  laid  her  hand  upon  his  brow,  and  smoothed 
aside  the  waves  of  hair  that  clung  sodankly  to  the  temples, 
which  appeared  already  sharp  and  gaunt  with  pain. 

His  eyes  were  following  her  every  movement,  the  fierce- 
ness of  their  anguish  passed  away.  Anon,  with  a  strong 
effort,  his  left  hand  moved  toward  hers.  She  understood, 
and  laid  hers  in  it.  And  as  she  did  so,  the  operation  had 
begun. 

She  had  placed  herself  so  facing  him,  that  to  observe  the 
surgeon's  motions  would  have  been  to  turn.  And  thus 
when  now  the  work  commenced,  and  when  the  pang  grew 
keener  and  more  keen,  she  only  knew  it  by  the  hold  that 
tightened  on  her  hand.  That  hold,  which  strengthened 
him,  strengthened  her  too.  His  gaze  for  not  one  instant 
wavered  from  her  face.     And  when  her  misery  seemed  too 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  363 

great  to  bear,  and  a  cloud  was  gathering  in  her  eyes,  his 
darkened  so,  that  for  his  sake  she  forced  herself  to  firmness. 
Every  sound  of  the  instrument,  each  touch  that  jarred  his 
frame,  she  quivered  under  in  her  inmost  heart,  yet  kept  her 
muscles  steady.     For  he  looked,  he  clung  to  her. 

A  low  deep  groan,  at  last.  A  deathlier  shade  stole  over 
the  countenance  so  wan  before. 

*'  He  has  swooned  again,"  Fadette  gasped  out. 

She  clenched  her  disengaged  hand  upon  her  bosom, 
struggling  hard  for  fortitude.  A  sense  of  suffocation,  a 
panting  for  breath,  seized  on  her.  Another  moment,  and 
she  would  have  lost  all  self-control.  But  the  surgeon's  firm 
tone  recalled  her — 

"  Steady  one  moment  longer,  it  is  almost  over." 

The  moment  passed.     The  work  was  finished. 

The  man  whom  she  had  loved  with  proud  reverence  for 
his  strength,  now  lay  before  her,  prostrate,  maimed,  and 
in  great  measure  helpless  for  all  time. 

And  yet  she  bent  above  him ;  and  although  the  great 
tears  fell,  and  tenderness  of  pity  softened  all  her  face  to 
sweetness  indescribable,  not  in  his  most  triumphant 
moments  had  such  pride  in  him  been  hers.  And  while 
she  thought  how  dear  it  would  be  should  he  claim  her  for 
his  helping  arm,  a  sense  of  her  unworthiness  for  the  first 
time  weighed  upon  her. 

She  was  startled  by  an  exclamation  from  the  surgeon — 

"  Ha,  here  is  a  bullet-mark — I  trust  no  dangerous  wound 
again,"  he  said  anxiously,  as,  raising  the  lantern,  he  dis- 
cerned a  small  round  hole  pierced  through  the  coat. 

But  no — the  shot  had  been  arrested,  for  no  wound  was 
there.  With  an  ejaculation  of  surprise,  he  searched,  and 
presently  drew  forth  a  tiny  oval  miniature.  And  there 
embedded  was  the  bullet. 

Fadette  mechanically  held  out  her  hand  for  it. 


364  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

Shattered  as  was  the  case,  the  ivory  portrait  within  was 
scarcely  injured.  It  was  not  difficult  to  recognize  the  fault- 
less features  of  Matoaca.  Fadette  knew  it  at  once  as  a  gift 
of  months  ago  to  herself  Ruthven  Erie  must  then  have 
taken  possession  of  it  on  that  last  day  of  Prairie-Combe. 

She  put  it  back  without  a  word.  Charley  and  Harry 
Thorne  exchanged  smiling  glances.  Both  were  well  as- 
sured it  was  Fadette's  own  face. 

Through  the  long  forced  marches  which  began  before 
that  night  had  brightened  into  day — through  fatigue,  and 
that  anxiety  which  made  those  marches  wearier  still,  while 
the  foe  yet  hovered  in  great  numbers  menacingly  about  the 
shattered  army — Fadette  hardly  left  Ruthven  Erie's  side. 
And  when  the  enemy,  at  length  defeated  at*  Newtonio  in 
the  last  engagement  of  the  expedition,  ceased  longer  to 
molest  the  southward-bound,  she  kept  her  post  through  all 
the  horrors  of  that  thirteen  days'  march  across  the  Indian 
country,  where  suffering,  sickness,  hunger,  death,  and  dis- 
appointment lurked  along  the  barren  prairies  of  the  Creek 
and  Choctaw  nations,  and  dogged  relentlessly  each  toil- 
some footfall.  But  in  the  fever's  long  delirium,  when  the 
wounded  man  called  wildly  on  her  name,  or  moaned  it  ten- 
derly in  calmer  intervals,  she  only  shuddered  and  grew 
pale. 

And  when  at  last  the  army  crossed  Red  River  into 
Northern  Texas,  long  the  Promised  Land,  "  the  land  flow- 
ing with  double  rations,"  and  Ruthven,  convalescent,  had 
no  further  need  of  care,  Fadette's  avoidance  of  him  was  so 
marked,  her  bearing  so  reserved  and  cold,  that  he  could  but 
revert  to  her  own  words  of  the  past :  "  The  love  could 
hardly  be  the  same." 

The  war-worn  heroes  rested  now.  They  had  been  in  the 
saddle  a  hundred  days  and  thirty  nights,  and  had  marched 


EASDOLPIl  IIOyOR  365 

more  tbaa  two  thousand  miles.     They  had  traversed  Ar- 
kansas, her  mountains  and  her  rivers,  and  crossed  the  rug- 
<red  sections  of  Missouri,  following  the  Missouri  s  muddy 
waters  hundreds  of  miles.     Kansas,  the  Indian   country 
had  been  on  their  line.     Cities  and  towns  by  scores  had 
fallen  in  their  hands.     Enormous  army-stores  had  been  ap- 
propriated to  their  use.   They  had  met  the  common  enemy  at 
home  thirty-nine  different  times,  and  success  and  complete 
victory  had  teen  theirs  on  thirty-eight  battle-heids.     And 
now  they  stacked  their  arms-for  a  brief  respite  as  the/ 
thou<Tht      They  saw  not  how  the  shadow  of  the  future 
crept°and  closed  in  dark  and  darker  on  the  war-path 

Kio-ht  on  the  war-path,  while  Charley's  oath  was  kept  nx 
the  hospitals.  Fadette  was  gone  to  Amy  Weir,  who  with 
her  husband,  was  at  Shreveport,  at  headquarters  She  had 
parted  from  Ruthven  Erie  with  a  hurried,  cold  farewell. 
And  "the  loss  struck  from  the  moment"  which  at  Inde- 
pendence had  been  his,  was  not  restored. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

BIDING   THE    SURREXDEE. 

Maimed  and  ruined— but  I— I  cried : 

My  heart  is  strong  for  thee — 
Only  to  lean  there  and  rest  awhile, 

Perchance  might  comfort  be — 
To  lean,  and,  leaning,  strengthen  it, 

While  we  two,  being  one, 
Shall  feel  thy  soul's  supporting  arm 

Guide  on,  till  day  is  done. 


T  was  evening. 

The  crimson  tide  of  sunset  flooded  all  the  skies, 
and  rippled  through  the  oaks  that  clustered  round 
a  home-enclosure.  Woodlands  bared  of  undergrowth  closed 
in  around  the  bloomy  square  where  stood  a  broad  white- 
columned  mansion,  surrounded  by  ample  galleries.  The 
garden  spread  before,  a  wild  luxuriance  of  roses,  myrtles, 
and  magnolias.  So  isolated  and  so  tranquil  in  the  long 
flushed  summer  twilight,  that  it  seemed  the  outside  world 
could  hardly  wander  hither  with  the  burden  of  its  cares 
and  anguish.  There  to  the  left,  with  oaks  again  behind, 
arose  the  laden  orchard  and  the  yineyard  slope.  In  front, 
the  avenue  opened  out  straight  and  broad,  though  shadowy 
with  pleaching  boughs  of  hickory,  gum,  and  oak,  Xo 
weird  gray  drapery  trailed  here,  but  from  time  to  time  a 
long  graceful  spray  of  vivid  green  moss  came  floating  down. 
All  through  the  cleared  forest  drifted  the  sunset  redly  on. 
Few  sounds  broke  on  the  stillness.     A  mocking-bird  was 


RANDOLPH  HONOR  307 

pouring  forth  his  varied  full-toned  melody  from  some  fur 
tree-top  swaying  in  the  breeze,  whieli  wafted  tlie  notes  on- 
ward with  a  dying  rustling  of  the  leaves.  A  whip-poor- 
will  was  wailing  from  the  hill-slope's  edge.  Along  the 
border  of  the  woodland  moaned  the  cooing  of  a  dove.  And 
almost  through  the  hush  might  reach  the  gurgle  of  a  brook 
which  trilled  across  the  avenue,  where  presently  this  takes 
a  downward  curve,  then  up  again. 

A  silence  of  unutterable  peace,  it  might  have  seemed,  to 
one  who  had  not  heard  in  the  old  days  the  laughter  and 
light-hearted  gayety  these  woods  were  wont  to  echo,  till 
they  fairly  won  their  name  of  "  Merry  Oaks."  And  now 
the  faint  far  stirring  of  the  forest  sounds  might  be  but 
silence  softly  sighing  in  her  sleep,  as  here  the  fragrant  float- 
ing of  the  bloomy  boughs  might  seem  her  slumbrous  breath. 

A  casual  glance  upon  the  assemblage  on  the  gallery 
would  have  confirmed  that  impression  of  a  happy  tiian- 
quillity.  In  the  spacious  doorway  stood  the  tall  gray-haired 
master  of  the  house,  his  fragile  dark-eyed  wife  upon  his 
arm.  Before  them,  on  the  gallery  steps,  was  grouped  a 
bevy  of  young  girls,  among  whom  more  than  one  pretty 
face  w^as  their  own.  The  tallest,  with  her  Jewess-style,  her 
rich  deep  coloring,  and  massy  braids,  was  resting  on  the 
shoulder  of  her  dimpled,  laughing,  brown-haired  younger 
sister.  Their  friend,  with  that  peach-bloom  on  her  cheek, 
and  the  modest  soft  brown  eyes  cast  down,  was  quite 
hemmed  in  by  two  dashing  young  couriers  in  "jackets  of 
gray."  And  half  a  score  in  the  loved  uniform,  of  friends, 
or  sti-angers  always  hospitably  welcomed — on  the  way  to 
Slireveport,  biding  the  surrender,  or  on  the  eve  of  a  self- 
exile  to  Brazil  or  ]Mexico — noAV  paused  there,  joining  in  tlie 
conversation,  or  gathered  at  a  distance  in  knots  of  twos 
and  threes.  But  not  one  in  all  that  circle  was  more  cor- 
dially incorporated  into  it,  or  turned  to  meet  the  kind  eyes 


368  RANDOLPH  HOXOR. 

looking  on  it,  with  more  of  heartfelt  home-feeling,  than 
the  refugee  who  sat  there,  her  hand  in  the  clinging  clasp 
of  the  bright  little  gipsy  at  her  feet. 

The  hum  of  conversation  was  too  broken  and  too  sorrow- 
fully languid  to  disturb  the  stillness.  But  now  a  chance 
word  brought  the  memory  of  a  battle  of  the  past.  Xo 
wonder  that  all  eyes  flashed  eagerly  upon  the  officer  who 
spoke.  For  his  earnest  face  was  heroic  in  enthusiasm,  his 
voice  thrilled  with  impassioned  fervor. 

He  ended.  Tears  of  pride,  and  then  of  bitter,  bitter  dis- 
appointment, weighed  down  the  dark  uplifted  lashes  of  the 
girl  who  stood  beside  him.  She  dashed  them  away  with 
an  impatient  rebellion  which  would  have  betrayed  Fadette 
in  the  mere  gesture. 

"  Ay,"  said  Charley,  near  her,  glowing  yet  to  victorious 
associations,  "  we  have  indeed  fought  a  good  fight.  Can  it 
surely  be  that  it  ends  here  ?" 

A  hush  of  gloom  fell  over  all 

For  weeks  this  fear,  now  narrowing  into  certainty,  had 
been  closing  round  them.  For  days  it  was  a  vague,  un- 
formed, unsightly  apparition — ghost,  as  it  were,  of  a  dead 
futm-e,  to  be  spoken  of  with  every  utterance  of  the  lips,  that 
thus  it  might  be  proA'en  formless  as  a  breath.  Then  for 
days,  as  it  began  to  shape  itself,  it  struck  dismay  and 
silence  to  each  heart.  And  every  member  of  the  numerous 
household  wandered  restlessly  apart,  speechless,  shrinking 
from  each  others'  glances,  lest  they  should  confirm  the 
dread — or  sat  together  moodily,  and  little  save  a  stifled 
groan  or  sigh  to  break  the  stillness.  One  evanescent  raj^ 
of  hope  had  flashed  through  the  dark,  with  the  report  that 
the  President  had  crossed  to  them — but  soon  it  faded  out. 
Those  galleries  had  echoed  to  the  sound  of  steps  which 
paced  them  to  and  fro,  striving  thus  to  crush  out  and  over- 
wear  the   anguish    of    foreboding.     And    smoke,   smoke, 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  369 

smoke  imceasingly,  as  if  from  the  funeral  pyre  of  every 
man's  hope  and  ambition.  Now  on  these  last  days  had 
come  a  yearning,  proud,  and  tender  looking  on  the  dead, 
dead  struggle — soon,  so  soon,  to  be  buried  from  sight  where 
the  seared  and  blood-dript  earth  was  not  ready  to  break 
forth  in  flowers.  With  hearts  that  never  in  the  years  to 
come  could  lose  that  pang,  men  and  women  stood  watching 
the  sudden  death-throe  they  were  powerless  to  stay.  The 
strongest  soldier  felt  no  shame  that  women  saw  he  turned 
aside  because  galling  tears  would  force  their  way,  or  that, 
he  strove  in  vain  to  steady  the  hoarse  choked  tones. 

"  Ah,"  said  Fadette,  looking  up  to  the  first  speaker,  well 
assured  that  in  the  pause  the  minds  of  all  had  stayed  on  the 
same  thought,  "  is  it  not  a  hideous  night-mare,  out  of  whicli 
we  must  awake  ?  The  utter  impossibility  of  such  an  end 
never  struck  me  more  forcibly  than  yesterday,  as  we  were 
driving  out  here  from  Shreveport.  We  had  passed  along 
Texas-street,  and  stopped  at  a  corner,  awaiting  Mr.  Weir. 
Near,  across  the  way,  was  Governor  Allen's  State-store  for 
the  soldiers'  families,  where  a  stream  pressed  in  with  rolls 
of  Louisiana  State-money,  destined  for  the  burning  in  the 
lot  behind.  Two  men  were  standing  on  the  corner — one  a 
tattered  soldier,  in  whose  hat  there  gleamed  your  crescent, 
cross,  and  star.  His  companion  held  a  large  roll  of  notes, 
and  made  a  motion  as  if  to  toss  them  to  our  driver  waiting 
on  the  pavement.  But  the  soldier  drew  his  arm  back.  I 
shall  never  forget  the  glorious  resolution  in  his  eyes  when 
he  cried,  there  were  true  men  to  make  each  dollar  there 
yet  good  !  But  ah,  poor  fellow,  his  voice  choked  then.  He 
drew  his  hat  down  over  his  brows,  and  turned  sharply 
away. " 

"  We  '  orphans  of  the  war,' "  said  a  Missourian  who 
leaned  against  the  column  above,  "owe  such  a  debt  of 
gratitude  to  Louisiana's  brave,  true-hearted  Governor,  that 

i6* 


370  RAXDOLPE  HOXOR. 

until  his  own  voice  bids,  Tve  dare  not  trample  out  these 
vestiges  of  his  authority." 

"Our lions  rebel  against  being  domesticated  and  purring 
before  the  hearth-stone,"  said  Charley,  with  an  effort  to 
throw  off  the  gloom, 

"  Domesticated — that  includes  the  domus,  does  it  not  ?" 
asked  one  of  the  exiles  destined  for  the  Imperial  army  in 
Mexico. 

Fadette  restlessly  moved  away.  Beneath  the  jasmine 
^trellis,  half-way  to  the  gate,  she  paused,  embowered  by 
the  fragrant  starry  boughs. 

Charley  and  one  of  the  gentlemen  had  hardly  joined  her 
there,  when  the  sound  of  hoof-beats  neared  along  the  avenue. 
And  through  the  sweeping  branches  came  a  gleam  of  gray. 

Fadette  was  watching  idly,  while  her  friend,  who  claimed 
a  brother's  privilege  in  the  house,  advanced  to  meet  these 
latest  comers. 

"  Three  of  them,  Charley.  How  they  are  dashing  up  ! 
And  oh,  what  a  handsome  man  the  foremost !"  she  added, 
as  he  drew  rein  before  the  gate,  and  removing  his  cap,  was 
making  the  usual  soldier's  request  to  stay  for  the  night — 
followed  by  the  usual  cordial  invitation. 

"Those  two  behind — "  Fadette  began  agtiin.  But  she 
stopped  short.  For  side  by  side,  as  they  rode  on,  she  rec- 
ognized Captain  Thorne — and  Mr.  Erie. 

She  caught  Charley's  arch  bright  glance,  and  her  con- 
cision increased. 

"I  wonder  who  that  handsome  man  is?"  she  said  hur- 
riedly, in  the  longing  for  some  sound  louder  than  the  beating 
of  her  own  heart. 

"  What — who — why,  Mr.  Erie  I  Is  it  possible  you  do 
not  know  him?"  Charley  answered  hesitatingly — perhaps, 
taken  at  unawares,  hardly  able  to  give  the  palm  away  from 
Harry  Thome. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  3  71 

He  might  indeed  have  justified  that  hesitation,  as  he 
came  forward,  flushed  with  pleasure  at  the  meeting.  The 
next  moment  he  liad  taken  Charley's  hand.  But  Fadette 
drew^  back,  half  hidden  by  the  jasmine  bouo-hs. 

Her  eyes  were  dazed  with  tears.  ,  She  had  not  seen 
Ruthven  Erie  since  they  coldly  parted  on  the  Texan  bor- 
der, he  then  still  an  invalid,  reclining  in  his  ambulance. 
She  had  thought  of  him — daily,  hourly — since.  But  in  her 
thoughts  the  pallid  hue  of  suffering  was  gone,  and  even  his 
loss  appeared  unreal.  She  watched  him  now.  The  sleeve 
dangled  across  his  breast,  and  the  hand  he  laid  upon  the 
shoulder  of  his  friend  of  the  crescent,  cross,  and  star,  who 
now  went  forward  to  greet  an  old  comrade,  was  slender 
even  to  emaciation. 

Fadette  was  almost  hidden  in  her  green  and  snowy  covert, 
when  Mr.  Erie  recognized  Charley  with  an  exclamation  of 
astonishment.  In  an  instant  he  was  at  her  side,  and  re- 
ceiving a  heartfelt  welcome.  Then  folio w^ed  a  quick  glance 
around  and  an  inquiry  for  Amy.  But  no  mention  of 
Fadette's  name. 

Charley  explained  that  their  kind  friends  at  "Merry 
Oaks"  had  come  to  Amy  at  Shreveport,  insisting  upon 
taking  home  one  and  all.  For  since  the  surrender  was  now 
inevitable,  to  live  was  fast  becoming  a  problem,  from  gen- 
erals' families  to  clerks. 

And  still  no  word  of  Fadette.  She  never  once  dreamed 
of  an^er  at  his  forgetfulness.  She  w^as  looking  reverently 
upon  him,  thinking  with  what  sacrifices  he  had  sealed  his 
fealty  to  his  country.  A  maimed  and  ruined  man — a 
broken,  ruined  land — he  wan  with  suffering  for  her — she 
wasted,  desolate.  The  thought  brought  a  grief  which 
stifled  Fadette.  And  with  it  came  the  recollection  of 
Matoaca.  In  bitter  self-disdain  she  scoffed  at  the  idea  of 
Ruthven's  lowering  his  proud  head  to  a  level  with  herself, 


372  RAyBOLni  110  XOR. 

when  Matoaca  stood  by  in  the  full  stature  of  a  perfect 
woman.  And  with  an  almost  sob,  she  owned  that  all  was 
as  it  should  be.  Her  own  faint-throbbing  heart  could 
never  lift  him  above  pain.  And  though  no  soul  could  lean 
more  gently,  yet  since  he  was  worn  and  weary  now,  he  did 
well  to  seek  a  statelier  love  to  lean  upon. 

She  was  startled  by  his  turning  quietly  to  her.  Must  he 
not  have  seen  her  all  this  while  ?  But  she  could  judge  of 
nothing  from  his  face.  The  compassionate  tearful  eyes 
lifted  nnhesitatingly  to  his  were  hardly  what  he  cared  to 
see.  For  after  shaking  hands,  as  a  footstep  now  approach- 
ed, he  presented 

"  My  cousin.  Colonel  Erie" — then  left  them  together. 

For  Amy  stood  upon  the  steps  beside  her  husband,  one 
arm  outstretched  to  Ruthven  with  a  sweet  low  quivering  cry. 

Fadette  had  glanced  up  at  the  stranger,  a  light  breaking 
over  her  face,  as  over  her  mind.  He  was  walking  on  ab- 
stractedly beside  her. 

"  Colonel  Erie,"  she  cried  in  an  abrupt  almost  whisper, 
"  you  have  been  in  Arkansas  ?" 

An  expression  of  vivid  interest  flashed  into  his  eyes  at 
once. 

"  Have  you  perhaps  heard  me  spoken  of  there  ?"  he 
asked  quickly. 

She  laughed  outright.  And  catching  her  arch  glance, 
he  joined  in  with  a  shade  of  embarrassment  in  his  manner. 
Yet  not  an  embarrassment  of  which  he  wished  to  rid  him- 
self, apparently.  For  he  stopped  under  the  tall  white  rose 
which  at  that  moment  overarched  their  path.  And  rais- 
ing his  arm  to  gather  a  cluster,  much  as  if  at  her  request, 
he  detained  her. 

"  Won't  you  throw  a  glimmer  of  light  upon  my  path  ?" 
he  said,  bending  low,  while  he  stripped  the  thorns  from  the 
flower-stem,  and  oflTered  it. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  373 

Fadette  looked  up  at  him  wonderingly. 

"  I  know  you  are  her  dearest  friend,"  he  went  on  ;  "  you 
can  tell  me  if  I  am  mad  to  follow  still.  Ruthven  brouglit 
me  her  miniature,  that  is  true — but  she  rather  permitted 
than  sent  it.  And  she  has  been  so  cold,  so  cruelly  unfor- 
CfivinG: !  Of  course  I  ouo^ht  to  have  been  free  before  ask- 
ing  to  bind  another.  But  my  chains  were  so  light  that  I 
well-nigh  forgot  them.  And  the  truth  is,  I  was  afraid  to 
confess.  That  unfortunate  '  if-for-me-thou-dost-forsake'  sen- 
timent has  made  many  a  wretch  wish  both  Moore  and  him- 
self at  the  bottom  of  that  frozen  lake. " 

Despite  the  humorous  tone  in  which  these  words  were 
uttered,  Fadette  was  touched  by  the  uncontrollable  anxiety 
of  his  manner.     She  answered  softly  : 

"  To  say  truth,  Colonel  Erie,  she  has  never  once  men- 
tioned your  name.  But  a  very  few  days  before  we  parted, 
she — I  think  she  was  betrayed  into  saying  that  to  love  once 
is  to  love  always,  strive  against  it  as  one  will,  and  that  time 
crumbles  down  pride's  strongest  barriers.  I  remember  her 
own  words,  because  they  quivered  on  her  proud  beautiful 
lips.  And  her  eyes  were  luminous  in  tears — so  luminous, 
that  they  might  lend  the  glimmer  which  you  seek."  She 
ended  with  a  smile  that  flitted  on  her  upturned  face. 

His  lowered  toward  her. 

Warmly  he  took  her  hand  toying  with  the  rosebuds. 
Even  as  he  did  so,  her  eyes  wandered  toward  the  gallery. 
And  she  instantly  comprehended  Matoaca's  unfaith,  and 
wished  the  dark  lady's  lover  somewhat  less  effusive  in  the 
friendly  way.  For  Ruthven  Erie,  conversing  with  one  of 
the  young  ladies  of  the  house,  stood  fronting  her,  and  she 
thought  she  could  perceive  an  expression  of  displeasure. 

When  Fadette  and  Colonel  Erie  approached.  Amy  had 
started,  then  came  forward,  and  extended  a  cordial  wel- 
come, yet  with  a  faint  flush,  and  head  bent  slightly  toward 


3T4  BAXDOLPH  HOXOB. 

her  husband.  He  returned  a  smile,  as  he  shook  hands  with 
his  ancient  rival. 

"  Why,  how  have  you  found  your  way  to  the  Confed- 
eracy ?"  said  Amy,  unembarrassed  in  a  moment — "  For  we 
still  are  the  Confederacy." 

"  Direct  to  and  from  Alexandria,  Cousin  Amy.  There  I 
met  Ruthven  here,  and  pushed  on  to  take  you  €7i  route — 
for  Brazil." 

Fadette  raised  her  head  hastily. 

He  bent  his,  adding  to  her  very  low — 

"  Missouri  also  lies  upon  the  way — is  it  not  so  ?" 

"To  Brazil!"  exclaimed  Amy  concernedly.  "Surely, 
my  dear  cousin,  you  will  not  go  alone,  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land  ?" 

The  brightness  of  hope,  a  radiance  more  than  a  mere 
smile,  illumined  his  whole  face. 

"  I  trust,  not  alone,"  he  said. 

And  Harry  Thorne  chimed  in : 

"Will  you  deliver  him  into  my  keeping,  Mrs.  Weir? 
We  go  together.  But  he  has  stipulated  that  I  am  to  lurk 
in  parts  unknown  to  Mr.  Yank,  in  Texas,  until  some  weeks 
are  passed,  when  he  will  take  me  on  the  road  to  sail  fi-om 
Galveston.  What  can  he  intend  doing  with  those  weeks  ?" 
he  questioned,  gayly.  He,  too,  had  spent  that  spring  of 
sixty-one  in  Arkansas,  when  Colonel  Erie  had  made  no  dis- 
guise of  his  attentions  to  Miss  Vaughan. 

"  Captain  Thorne  !     You  going  ?"  cried  Fadette. 

Charley  did  not  speak.  Her  face  was  as  a  mask,  and  her 
fingers  continued  to  tap  a  tattoo  upon  the  column  against 
which  she  stood  apart. 

"  Going  indeed.  You  are  sorry  ?  I  thank  you.  I  have 
no  one  to  regret  me — no  one  to  say  as  much,"  he  ended 
half  angrily,  with  an  involuntary  movement  toward  Charley. 

With  that,  Charley  turned  sharply  round — 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  375 

"And  what  will  you  do  in  Brazil,  Captain  Thorne? 
Those  pampas  are  a  fine  field  for  your  old  profession  of 
jayhawking.  It  is  not  to  be  presumed  that  you  will  turn 
in  and  maul  rails." 

Harry's  color  rose,  and  he  had  some  difficulty  in  repress- 
ing a  retort.     But  he  said  instead : 

"  The  heyday  of  jayhawking  is  over.  Miss  Charley. 
"Work,  work,  hard  work — a  log  cabin  put  up  by  my  OA\n 
hands — a  clearing  in  the  wood — no  servant  but  my  man 
Tom,  who,  after  four  years  of  campaigning  with  his  master, 
has  no  disposition  to  fly  off  the  handle  now.  All  these, 
and  freedom.  Aye,  and  exile,"  he  added  sadly.  "  But 
beware,  you,  my  stay-at-home  friends — when  you  become 
liege  subjects  of  the  United  States,  you  become  my  lawful 
prey.  I  shall  consider  myself  quite  at  liberty,  coming  back 
one  of  these  fine  days,  to  jerk  you  all  out  of  the  last 
red." 

"  And  will  you  too  return  thus,  I\Ir.  Erie  ?"  Fadette  said 
in  seeming  carelessness,  shrinking  from  a  more  direct  ques- 
tion as  to  whether  he  were  to  be  an  exile  too. 

"  I  do  not  go,"  he  answered,  with  a  coldness  which 
touched  her  to  the  quick. 

"  Ah,"  she  cried,  "  I  do  not  see  how  one  can  brook  to 
stay  here!  The  very  atmosphere  is  heavy  with  battle- 
smoke — we  cannot  know  a  moment's  forgetfulness — not 
draw  one  free  breath  !  We  should  go — all — all  of  us — and 
leave  the  land  a  desert." 

"  Leave  our  native  soil,  our  old  associations,  and  that 
battle-smoke  which  still  bears  upward  many  a  comrade's 
parting  breath  ?  And  what,  for  instance,  could  a  mutilated, 
ruined  man,  such  as  I,  do  in  a  colony  ?  However,  it  is  not 
with  me  a  question  of  expediency." 

"No,"  returned  Harry  Thorne^* Erie  has  the  idea 
finnly   rooted  that   the   South    has  need  still  of  the  *  so- 


376  BAXDOLPH  HOXOR. 

called.'  Xow  I  cannot  see  it  in  that  light.  But  should  a 
brighter  day  ever  dawn,  here  we  shall  be  found  again,  ready 
to  wake  snakes  as  in  days  gone  by.  But  just  now  we  are 
ourselves  in  danger  of  falling  into  the  torpid  state" — and 
he  began  to  hum  after  a  most  drowsy  fashion — "  Wake  me 
up  when — dies." 

"  When  who  dies  ?"  Amy  asked. 

" '  Whistle  o'er  the  lave  o't,' "  interrupted  Ruthven 
quickly.  "  My  dear  Amy,  our  hot-headed  friend  has  his 
own  ideas  far  too  fully  developed  for  a  young  captain  con- 
fessedly ignorant." 

"Xot  so  ignorant,"  retorted  Harry,  "but  that  he  can 
give  you  all  a  wonderful  piece  of  information.  What  do 
you  think  it  can  be,  Mrs.  Weir  ?"  he  asked,  impatient  of 
the  shade  of  thought  which  in  the  pause  began  to  darken 
every  face. 

"  What  indeed  ?"  returned  Amy,  with  a  faint  show  of 
interest. 

"  An  early  victim  to  the  matrimonial  fever  which  I 
prophesy  will  rage  as  high  as  the  Brazilian.  Miss  Grahame 
married  some  three  weeks  since." 

"  Miss  Grahame  I" 

"  Do  you  remember  a  certain  beardless  youth" — (Harry 
Thorne  had  acquired  a  fair  imperial)—"  who  in  the  winter 
of  'sixty-two  was  quite  devoted  ?  He  certainly  filled  her 
bill,  and  last  winter  the  acquaintance  progressed  at 
Washington,  our  pleasant  Arkansas  retreat,  where  it  con- 
summated in — I  had  nearly  said  '  darkness  and  the  death- 
hour  rounding  it.'  " 

"  Which  goes  to  prove,"  commented  Charley,  "  that  love 
is  written  on  the  heart  in  sympathetic  ink,  and  needs  but 
warmth  to  bring  it  out." 

"  Miss  Charley,  say  that  once  again,"  cried  Harry  Thorne, 
going  over  to  her  where  she  still  stood  somewhat  withdrawn. 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  377 

"  A  l-rash  speech,  Captain  Thorne,"  she  returned  com- 
posedly. "  We  must  all  learn  to  talk  as  straight  as  if  we 
were  in  a  dug-out,  if  you  take  up  chance  words  thus." 

For  some  moments  he  paused  before  her,  downcast  and 
silent.  Then,  as  if  inspired  by  a  sudden  resolve,  -he 
spoke — 

"What  will  you  do  in  this  land  of  desolation,  Miss 
Charley  ?" 

She  only  shook  her  head.  She  had  no  voice  to  speak. 
The  remembrance  of  her  utter  isolation  crushed  her  with  a 
weight  too  suifocating. 

Harry  Thome's  eyes  sparkled. 

"Charley,"  he  said,  with  precipitate  fervor,  "1  am  come 
that,  vainly  or  not,  I  might  ask  you  to  go  to  Brazil  with 
me." 

She  looked  at  him,  but  ignored  his  hand  outstretched. 
She  folded  her  arms,  and  waited  thus  an  instant,  firm  and 
self-reliant  as  a  man  might  have  been.  She  did  not  affect 
to  misunderstand  the  full  import  of  his  words,  although  her 
gaze  did  not  waver,  but  full  and  free  met  his.  Yet  the  hot 
blood  swept  up  to  her  brow. 

"You  know  that  I  am  able  to  stand  alone.  Captain 
Thorne  ?  You  know  that  I  have  need  of  the  generous  pro- 
tection of  no  man  ?" 

His  hope  died  darkly  out.     He  stammered : 

"  I  know  that  well — and— I  know  that,  for  the  second 
time,  I  have  made  an  egregious  fool  of  myself.  But,"  he 
went  on  resolutely,  "do  not  imagine  all  ends  here.  So 
lono^  as  no  one  else  can  claim  this  hand — " 

He  grasped  it  as  he  spoke. 

She  turned  her  head  away. 

"Take  care,"  she  answered,  brokenly;  "there  is  blood 
upon  it.  Can  you  be  sure  that  it  is  a  woman's,  or  a  com- 
rade's?" 


378  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

"  Charley !" 

She  was  trembling  as  he  could  not  hare  dreamed  any- 
thing had  power  to  move  her.     It  M'as  answer  all-sufficient. 

"  The  hand  is  mine.  The  blood  I  take  upon  me — so — " 
he  affirmed,  daringly.  And  he  drew  the  jiassive  fingers 
within  his  arm. 

And  pacing  up  and  down  the  gallery  thus,  remembered 
words  came  to  his  lips,  full  and  warm  as  any  from  his  own 
heart  could  be : 

"  '  Your  wisdom  may  declare 

That  womanhood  is  proved  the  best 
B}'  golden  brooch  and  glossy  vest 

The  mincing  ladies  wear — 
Yet  is  it  proved,  and  was  of  old, 
Anear  as  well,  I  dare  to  hold, 

By  truth,  or  by  despair. 

*' '  Oh,  womanly  slie  prayed  in  tent 

"When  none  beside  did  wake — 
Oh,  womanly  she  paled  in  fight 

For — one  beloved's  sake  } 
And  her  little  hand,  defiled  with  blood, 
Her  tender  tears  of  womanhood 

Most  woman-pure  did  make.' " 

"  Only  think  I"  Charley  laughed,  shaking  off  those  tears 
with  a  brave  effort — "a  poem  on  prosaic  me  !  Truly,  swans 
do  sometimes  take  themselves  for  ugly  ducks !" 

An  hour  after,  Fadette  stole  apart  unseen.  Music,  and 
the  blaze  of  light  within  the  drawing-room,  sent  her  out 
into  the  gallery  for  quiet. 

She  passed  round  to  the  side,  and  upon  the  steps  which 
here  also  ascended  from  the  garden,  she  took  her  seat,  en- 
sconced behind  a  column  from  view  of  the  windows  open- 
ing to  the  floor.  Thence  on  the  hush  of  the  outer  air 
vibrated  the  melody  of  fresh  girlish  voices,  with  the  deeper 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  379 

chorus  of  the  gentlemen.  Fadette  sighed,  remembering 
that  her  ties  to  the  dear  old  place  were  parting  even  now. 
True,  she  had  mingled  in  many  a  lighter-hearted  scene  at 
Merry  Oaks.  Now  there  was  at  best  a  calm.  But  a  calm 
in  which  one  strove  to  linger,  lest  just  beyond  the  smooth- 
ness should  crash  down  the  cataract. 

Even  the  music  took  the  current  of  the  thoughts  of  all. 
"  The  Outward  Bound"  went  home  to  more  than  one  list- 
ener, with  the  sweep  of  waters  soon  to  roll  between.  And 
as  the  melancholy  "Moon  behind  the  Hill"  ensued,  Fa- 
dette's  gaze  wandered  on  to  the  oak-crowned  slope  before 
her,  just  above  which  the  moon  was  peering  now.  There 
she  seemed  to  see  another  hill  where  the  moon  was  wont 
to  rise  on  the  far  Chesapeake.  Another  stanza  brought  a 
heavy  sigh,  with  the  vision  of  a  prairie  grave,  which  the 
moon  did  not  watch  over,  as  in  the  song,  in  the  familiar 
scenes  of  childhood.  Those  scenes — were  they  foi-ever  van- 
ished? Might  her  guardian  gain  the  old  home  back? 
Proudly  she  recalled  his  words  when  last  he  stood  there: 
"  Shall  I  loose  the  true  Randolph  Honor,  to  hold  fast  its 
emblem,  these  old  walls  and  acres  ?"  Then  his  other  words 
recurred — and  with  them,  how  her  pulses  quickened  :  "  My 
will-'o-the-wisp  cannot  be  won  back  from  Carolina  marshes." 
Would  any  one  indeed  seek  to  detain  her  there  ? 

She  started  and  looked  up  guiltily,  at  a  man's  step  on 
the  gallery.  She  knew  well  whom  she  should  see  there. 
But  he  had  not  known.  For  he  spoke  Amy's  name,  then 
hastily  apologized  for  his  mistake  in  the  half  dark. 

Fadette  hesitated,  then  drew  aside  the  white  folds  of  her 
dress  which  had  swept  over  half  the  steps. 

"  Won't  you  stay,  Mr.  Erie  ?  '  The  moon  behind  the 
hiir  is  improved  by  yonder  illustration,"  she  ended  with  a 
gesture  across  to  the  silvered  woodland  crest. 

He  threw  himself  almost  at  her  feet,  his  elbow  resting  on 


380  RANDOLPH  HONOR. 

a  step  above.  Yet  his  eyes  did  not  meet  hers,  but  were 
uplifted  to  the  brilliant  skies.  Hers  therefore  lingered  un- 
observed upon  that  careworn  countenance.  She  herself 
grew  careworn  with  the  watching.  And  to  break  the 
silence  which  became  oppressive,  she  asked  if  he  would  re- 
turn to  "Beauregard,"  or  to  Carolina  with  the  "Weu-s, 
Charley,  and  herself. 

"  Beauregard  is  but  a  wilderness,"  he  made  reply — 
"  burnt  and  waste,  and  I  have  nothing  to  expend  upon  it. 
Xo — if  my  horses  will  defray  travelling-expenses,  I  shall  go 
to  Carolina,  and  there  take  whatsoever  my  left  hand  iind- 
eth  to  do  for  the  present." 

"  Ah,  then  you  ^-ill  go  with  us."  There  was  a  thrill  of 
pleasure  in  her  voice. 

He  turned  full  upon  her. 

"  Except  it  be  a  freak  of  chance,"  he  said  slowly,  "  I  see 
you  to-night  for  the  last  time  in  my  life." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Erie,  why — why — "  she  began,  shocked  be- 
yond her  self-control. 

"Hush,"  he  said  very  low.  "You  speak  of  what  you 
do  not  understand.  To  you  it  is  pleasant,  doubtless,  to 
keep  fast  associations  of  the  past  four  years.  You  gladly 
welcome  a  friend  who  brings  these  back  to  you.  But  have 
you  thought  what  it  must  be  to  me  ?  After  to-night,  I 
will  rather  die  than  meet  you.  Do  you  dream  I  can  be 
with  you,  and  yet  see  the  gulf  between  us,  over  which  I 
cannot  draw  you  to  myself?" 

The  voice  was  stifled,  and  stopped  short.  His  head  was 
bowed,  and  a  stern  fortitude  marked  the  set  features.  But 
a  brilliant  smile  lit  up  Fadette's.  Slowly  she  dropped  her 
hand,  until  it  rested  on  his  shoulder. 

He  started  up,  and  the  light  touch  fell  off.  She  rose  too, 
trembling  now. 

"Xot  so,"  he  said  proudly.     "I  scorn  to  take  from  pity 


RANDOLPH  HONOR.  381 

that  which  love  refused  me.  Do  you  think  I  did  not  mark 
the  shrinking  and  the  coldness  which  grew  on  you  before 
we  parted  last  November  ?  Do  you  think  I  have  forgot 
that  parting  ?  Far  be  it  from  me  to  reject  your  sympathy 
— but  I  will  have  none  of  it  enshrined  in  the  high  place  of 
love." 

She  shrank  back,  steadying  herself  against  the  column, 
that  he  might  not  see  how  she  was  quivering  in  every  limb. 

"  If — one — had  cared  for  you,"  she  almost  whispered, 
"  is  this  a  time  when  that  feeling  could  grow  cold  ?" 

"Ay — 'The  love  cannot  be  the  same.'"  He  quoted 
her  own  words,  with  a  short  hard  laugh. 

She  stood  no  more  aloof,  shrinking,  downcast,  and  timid. 
With  a  swift  gliding  movement  she  drew  near,  and  laid 
both  hands  on  his  arm,  looking  up  at  him  fearlessly,  the 
whole  light  of  her  soul  in  her  eyes. 

"Should  I  do  this,"  she  began  steadily;  "if— if"— she 
faltered — "  Will  you  then  force  me  to  say — this  is  no  pity 
— it  is — love." 

Then  the  blushes  surged  across  her  face.  She  dropped 
her  hands,  and  drew  back  hurriedly.  She  turned  her  head 
— in  another  instant  w^ould  have  flitted  beyond  his  reach, 
safe  in  the  drawing-room.  But,  quick  as  thought,  he  caught 
her  hand. 

"  Have  you  remembered" — he  demanded,  bending  to  seek 
his  answer  in  her  averted  face — "have  you  remembered 
how  feeble  is  this  one  arm  to  guard  you,  to  uphold  you — 
ay,  even  to  hold  you  fast  ?" 

The  slender  little  fingers  he  still  kept,  impulsively  tight- 
ened upon  his.  She  had  no  words,  but  the  action  spoke  for 
her.     It  acknowledged  a  bond  closer  than  his  holding  fast. 

He  grew  very  pale. 

"  It  is  too  much.  I  dare  not  bind  her  to  such  a  sacrifice," 
he  muttered. 


382  RANDOLPH  UOXOR. 

She  turned  at  that. 

"  You  do  not  understand,"  she  said.  "  This  it  is,  which 
you  are  to  decide — Whether  you  go  your  way  this  night, 
and  leave  me  helpless ;  or  whether  you  will  let  me  rest  on 
your  strong  soul,  while  you — will  it,  can  it  .comfort  you  ? — 
are  leaning  on  me — thus." 

She  lifted  his  hand,  and  laid  it  on  her  shoulder,  embold- 
ened by  the  incredulous  gaze  which  he  still  fixed  upon  her. 

He  roused  at  that. 

"  Do  you  know,"  he  said,  looking  into  her  upraised  face 
with  a  tumult  of  emotions  surging  over  his,  "  have  you  con- 
sidered that  which  you  are  choosing  now  ?  For  that  choice 
once  fully  made,  I  know  not  how  you  shall  ever  be  released. 
The  future  is  dim  before  me ;  I  have  no  longer  a  bright 
home  to  offer  you — " 

"  Hark,  Mr.  Erie  !"  she  interposed,  with  a  gesture  of  at- 
tention toward  the  house,  and  a  tremulous  light  in  the 
sweet  eyes  dropped  bashfully  from  his — "Do  you  hear 
what  they  are  singing  ?     Listen  !" 

Clear  and  thrilling  in  its  melody,  swept  out  upon  the 
moonlit  hush : 

" '  The  heart  of  the  soldier's  the  home  of  his  wife, 
Imogen ! 
The  heart  of  the  soldier's  the  home  of  his  wife.'  " 

"Xevei-more  to  be  released!"  Ruthven  Erie  exclaimed 
triumphantly.     And  his  left  arm  drew  her  to  her  home. 


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